Ta-‘aawanuu ‘alalbirri wat-taqwaa, wa laa ta-‘aawanuu ‘alal-‘ismi wal-‘udwaan

Lesson # 594 From Holy Qur’aan

Ta-‘aawanuu  ‘alalbirri  wat-taqwaa,  wa  laa  ta-‘aawanuu  ‘alal-‘ismi  wal-‘udwaan

Surah Maaa-‘idah (the Table Spread) – Chapter – 5)

Verse – 2b of 120, Section – 1 of 16 (Part – 6)

 BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allaah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

And when you have laid aside Ehraam, then go hunting (if ye will). And let not your hatred of a folk who (once) stopped your going to the Inviolable Place of Worship seduce you to transgress; but help ye one another unto righteousness and pious duty. And help not one another unto sin and transgression and keep your duty to Allaah. Lo! Allaah is Severe in punishment.

Wa  ‘izaa  halaltum  fas-taaduu.  Wa  laa  yajri-mannakum  shana-‘aanu  qawmin  ‘an-sadduu-kum  ‘anil-Mas-jidil-Haraami  ‘an-ta’-taduu.  Wa  ta-‘aawanuu  ‘alalbirri  wat-taqwaa,  wa  laa  ta-‘aawanuu  ‘alal-‘ismi  wal-‘udwaan.  Watta-qUllaah.  ‘InnAllaaha  Shadiidul-‘iqaab.

Lesson

Halaltum – (you have laid aside Ehraam), the things, which had become unlawful and forbidden to be used after tying Ehraam, now have become lawful. ‘As-taaduu – (go hunting), now gaming has become lawful for you after your coming out from Ehraam, if you wish. ‘A’-taduu – it has been derived from ‘ud-waan, which means ‘act of seducing’. ’Atta-quu – it is from taqwaa, which means ‘keeping duty (to Allaah), remaining away from the evil’.

In the previous verse, hunting of wild animals was forbidden in the form of Ehraam. After untying Ehraam, now it has become lawful to hunt. It is known very clearly from the afterwards Instructions that ‘how a best method is taught by Islam to the Muslims to treat other people’. First portion of this verse, which has been recited and explained in the previous lesson, guides, “Treat with respect the months of Hajj, do not prevent the people, nor molest them who come for performing Hajj or pilgrimage of the Inviolable Place “Ka’-bah” and preserve their collard animals (of sacrifice). The people of Makkah used to accept also these affairs, but their enmity so increased with Muslims that when they reached Makkah from Madinah for Pilgrimage (Umrah) of Inviolable Place (Ka’-bah), then the Infidels ignored all these instructions and prohibited the Muslims from entering into Makkah Mu-‘azmah. To be excited by Muslims was a very little and common thing. Therefore, at first those commands were ordained, which have been determined necessary for performing Hajj and Pilgrimage (Umrah), so that the Muslims should care. And it has been described very clearly that you should neither violate nor commit any such crime, as the Makkan people did due to their enmity with you. Keep your every person off from boiling up. They should respect the sanctity of the Monuments of Allaah Almighty and do not cross the limits.

Social Principles

Many commands have been ordained to the Muslims in this verse. Some of them are for special occasions and others are common. Two commands out of common, need special attention of the Muslims. The entire badness of our society can be driven away if these two rules are followed. No depravity of the society could be produced in to us if these principles continued also afterwards to be acted upon likewise earlier. But alas! We disregarded them and now the result of our negligence is before us. Those two principles are:

1. Ta-‘aawanuu  ‘alalbirri  wat-taqwaa – (help one another unto righteousness and pious duty).

2. Wa  laa  ta-‘aawanuu  ‘alal-‘ismi  wal-‘udwaan – (And help not one another unto sin and transgression).

We have been listening the words “ta-‘aawan and laa ta-‘aawan” (Help and do not help) since long. Let’s understand their meanings today, as the meanings, which have been described in the Holy Qur’aan. Ta-‘aawan means to help one another and laa ta-‘aawan mean ‘not to help one another and turn face. It has been told in this verse, “in which matters, you should help others, and which is the occasion where you cannot help others”? It has been decided in two sentences where, there is no room of any doubt. That is to say; help one another unto righteousness and pious duty, and help not one another unto sin and transgression. Birr means righteousness and Taqwaa means ‘to escape from evil deeds. We should help one another in these two matters. ‘Ism means sin, evil, and ‘udwaan means transgression upon someone. We should never help anyone in these two matters. If it is said in clear words, you can take it as, “Help the good people in their good deeds and do not go near the evildoers, nor help in their evil deeds”.

Those all deeds come under the heading of Birr, due to which the people gain. Taqwaa is fear of Allaah Almighty. The act due to which any person is punished either in the world or on the Doomsday or at both places, is called ‘ism. ‘Udwaan means “to effect one’s purpose by pressing the weak than oneself”.

The Form of Ta-‘aawan. All the persons should assemble at any place and devise mutually that, “We all shall help him collectively, who will work for betterment of the people and escape from the sins”. And the form of laa ta-‘aawan is the decision by all people, “We shall break off all connections collectively with him, who will do evils and press the weak”. After establishing in such a manner, it is impossible that anyone might do evil or attain one’s object by pressing the weak.   

Now everybody should think, “Are we not doing against the above-mentioned principles”? If this condition is maintained as it is, then entire world will suffer at last. Good people will expire gradually by pressing and the bad will be living in the whole world. When it would be so, then the entire world will ruin and everything will be finished.  

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’an published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)