The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 302
Law (Acts 15:20, 29), they could not take exception to the Law and condemn it as a curse. The fifth verse lays down an Islamic commandment with regard to eatables and enjoins that only pure things are to be used, meaning that such things should be used as are not only lawful but are also pure, i. e. their eating should not in any way injure man's physical or moral health. Subject to this commandment, all those things have been forbidden to Muslims which, though constituting lawful food, offend against the feeling of cleanliness and the use of which is calculated to injure health. For instance, the eating of cucumber is lawful but when its use is likely to cause cholera, it becomes forbidden, being. Thus in Islam the use of a thing is subject to two vital conditions; (1) it should be i. e. allowed by the Law; (2) it should be bor pure, i. e. its use should in no way contravene or offend against medical or hygienic laws and regulations. Islam alone of all religions, while laying down ordinances regarding lawful and unlawful things, has pointed out the nice distinction between what is only lawful and what is both lawful and pure. These ordinances extend to the verse 9 of the chapter; and the next four verses (10-13), while referring to the previous favours of God, embody the Divine promise that good results are sure to follow if these ordinances are faithfully obeyed. Thereafter, Muslims are warned that the followers of previous religions broke God's covenants and disregarded some parts of His word. This led to their condemnation and disgrace. They did not deviate from the right path and become corrupt and suffer humiliation because the Law was a curse, but because they consigned the Law to oblivion. So now there was no door left open to them but to follow the Holy Prophet and through him re-inherit God's favours (14-17). The Surah then proceeds to warn Christians that at first by deifying Jesus they kindled the wrath of God upon them and now they have begun to be jealous of the Holy Prophet because God has chosen him for His favours. This jealous attitude of theirs towards the Holy Prophet resembles that of Cain towards Abel the two sons of Adam (18-37). The verse 38 contains a prophecy that Christians will hatch plots against Islam and that some weak of faith from among Muslims would also become implicated in these plots. But the Faithful are enjoined to trust in God and fear none but Him. As the hatchers of these secret plots would work clandestinely like thieves, ordinances dealing with theft have been laid down in the next few verses (39-45). Then the attention of the Muslims is drawn to the fact that, when on account of opposition by Christians, the hypocrites would again be inclined to create mischief, Jews would make common cause with them. It is stated that while Jews and Christians lose no opportunity to oppose Islam, they 742