History of surah The Table

The Table

Ayahs

120

Revelation Place

Mecca

surah

Name
The word mai'dah appears in verse 112, which is where this Surah gets its name. The name of this surah, like the names of many other surahs, has no special connection to the surah's subject and has only been used as a symbol to set it apart from other surahs.


Period of Revelation
Traditions and the surah's theme both suggest that it was revealed after the Hudaibiyah Treaty, either at the end of the sixth century or the start of the seventh. It therefore addresses the issues that resulted from this treaty.
The Holy Prophet traveled to Makkah in Zil-Qaadah 6 A.H. with 1400 Muslims to perform Umrah, but the Quraish forbade him because of their animosity even though it was completely against all of the long-standing religious customs of Arabia. A treaty was reached at Hudaibiyah after lengthy, difficult, and harsh negotiations, according to which it was agreed that he could perform Umrah the following year. That was a very appropriate time to impart on the Muslims the proper manner in which to make the pilgrimage to Makkah with true Islamic dignity and to urge them not to stop the unbelievers from making the pilgrimage as retaliation for their misdeeds. As many unbelievers had to travel through Muslim territory in order to reach Makkah, this was not at all challenging. Because of this, the opening verses discuss topics related to the pilgrimage to Makkah, and the same theme is continued in verses 101–104. The other subjects covered in this Surah also seem to be from the same era.
The subject's continuity indicates that the entire Surah was likely revealed in one sitting, as a single discourse. It's also conceivable that some of its verses were revealed at a later time and added to this Surah at appropriate locations. However, it doesn't seem like there is even the slightest gap anywhere in the surah to suggest that it may have included two or more discourses.

 

Event of Revelation
The purpose of this Surah's revelation was to address the needs of the new circumstances, which were distinct from those that prevailed at the time of the revelation of Al-i-'Imran and An-Nisa. The immediate surroundings of Al-Madinah were once dangerous for Muslims due to the shock of the defeat at Uhd, but now that Islam had become an unstoppable force, its influence had spread to Najd on the east, the Red Sea on the west, Syria on the north, and Makkah on the south. The Muslims at Uhd experienced a setback, but it did not derail their resolve. They had been somewhat motivated to act by it. The power of the neighboring clans, within a circle of about 200 miles, had been reduced as a result of their constant struggle and unmatched sacrifices. The Jewish threat that had consistently threatened Al-Madinah had completely vanished, and the Jews in the other regions of the Hijaz had turned into subjects of the State of Al-Madinah. The Battle of the Ditch had foiled the Quraish's final attempt to repress Islam. The Arabs had realized by this point that no force could stifle the Islamic movement. Islam was no longer just a creed that controlled people's minds and hearts; it had evolved into a State that controlled every facet of life for those who lived within its borders. Due to this, Muslims were able to practice their religion freely and without interference.
During this time, another development had also occurred. The Islamic worldview and its tenets had guided the development of Muslim civilization. The moral, social, and cultural practices of this civilization set Muslims apart from non-Muslims in a way that was quite distinct from all other civilizations. All areas had mosques built, prayer had been instituted, and the Imam (chief) had been chosen for each settlement and clan. The Islamic courts were in charge of enforcing the carefully crafted civil and criminal laws of Islam. The old trade and commerce practices had been replaced by new and improved ones. The Islamic laws regarding marriage, divorce, gender segregation, and the punishment for adultery, libel, and other offenses had shaped Muslims' social lives in a unique way. Their social interaction, conversation, attire, way of life overall, culture, etc., had developed a distinct identity of its own. The non-Muslims could not anticipate that the Muslims would ever return to their former fold as a result of all these changes.
Prior to the Hudaibiyah Treaty, the Muslims were so preoccupied fighting the non-Muslim Quraish that they had no time to spread their message. What appeared to be a defeat at Hudaibiyah, but was actually a victory, removed this obstacle. This allowed Muslims to live in peace on their own land while also having time to spread their message in neighboring areas. As a result, the Holy Prophet wrote letters to the emperors of Rome, Iran, Egypt, and Arabia, extending an invitation to convert to Islam. Muslims spread among the clans and tribes at the same time and invited them to embrace Allah's Divine Way. At the time that Al-Ma'idah was revealed, these conditions existed.


Topics
It addresses the following three key subjects:

  • Rules and regulations governing Muslims' political, cultural, and religious lives.
  • In this regard, a set of ceremonial laws governing the Hajj pilgrimage have been established; strict reverence for Allah's symbols is required, and it is forbidden to obstruct or otherwise interfere with pilgrims as they make their way to the Kaabah. The pre-Islamic era's foolish self-imposed restrictions on what is permissible and prohibited in terms of food have been abolished, and clear rules and regulations have been established. It is authorized to eat with the followers of the Book and to wed their females. There are set guidelines for how to perform Wudu (ablutions), baths, purification, and tayammum (ablutions with dust). Rebellion, causing a disturbance of the peace, and theft all carry specific penalties. Gambling and drinking are both strictly forbidden. The law of evidence has been expanded, and punishment for breaking the oath has been established.
  • The warning was directed at Muslims.
  • It was feared that now that Muslims were in positions of power, they might become corrupt. Allah had repeatedly warned them to uphold justice during this time of great trial and to watch out for the bad deeds of their forebears, the people of the Book. They have been warned to uphold the Covenant of obedience to Allah and His Messenger and to strictly adhere to their directives and prohibitions in order to avoid suffering the same fate as the Jews and Christians who had disobeyed them. They have been warned against adopting a hypocritical attitude and given instructions to follow the rules of the Holy Quran in all of their dealings.
  • The warning for both Christians and Jews.
  • Jews in north Arabia have once more been warned about their incorrect attitude and invited to follow the Right Way because their power has been severely diminished and nearly all of their habitations are now ruled by Muslims. A thorough invitation has also been extended to the Christians at the same time. They have been warned to accept the direction of the Holy Prophet for they have been shown the errors of their creeds. Interestingly, it should be noted that no direct invitations have been sent to the Majusis and idolaters residing in the neighboring nations because there was no need for a separate address for them because their condition had already been covered by the letters sent to the Mushrik Arabs.
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The strengthening of the Islamic Community
In keeping with Surah An-directives Nisa's regarding the unification of the Islamic Community, Muslims are expected to observe and fulfill all of their obligations. New rules have been established to prepare Muslims for this task.
As rulers, they have also received special instructions to uphold the Quranic Covenant and warnings to be on the lookout for corruption and abuse of power. They have also been urged to learn from the mistakes made by their forebears, the Jews and the Christians, who were warned to abandon their misguided views of the Right Path and accept the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (God's peace be upon him).


Topics and their Relationships
The Believers have been urged to fulfill all of their duties with the utmost care and to adhere to the Divine Law's rules regarding food, sex, Salat, justice, etc. 1-10
The Muslims have been warned to avoid the mistakes of their forebears; they should adhere to the Right Path and stay away from the bad example of the Jews and Christians, who violated their Covenants and wandered off in evil directions. They, in turn, have received warnings to abandon their bad habits and embrace Islam. 11-26
Reprimanding the Jews for their plot to assassinate the Holy Prophet and his Companions, the tale of the two sons of Adam has been told. (v. 11 & E.N. 30). The sanctity of human life has also been emphasized using this tale. 27-32
In order to accomplish this goal, those who cause disorder within the Islamic State are subject to punishment, and believers are urged to do everything in their power to establish the Right Way. The sanctity of property has also been emphasized. 33-40
Nothing better could be expected from those who had abandoned their own Torah, so the Holy Prophet (and through him the Muslims) has been reassured that he should not be concerned about the animosity, the evil plans, and the cunning of the Jews. Instead, he should continue working tirelessly to establish the Right Way in accordance with the Guidance of the Quran. He should treat Christians similarly because they had also abandoned their faith. 41-50
The Believers have been warned not to make friends with or confide in Jews and Christians due to their moral degeneration. Likewise, they should only rely on the true Believers and be vigilant against the evil plots of hypocrites, unbelievers, and those of a like mind. The people of the Book have also been urged to put aside their animosity and take up the proper attitude because they cannot find salvation otherwise. 51-69
The topic of the Jewish and Christian religions' corruption has been brought back. Christians in particular have received criticism for their mistakes in relation to the Tauhid doctrine. They have also been chosen over the cold-hearted Jews because some of them have a stronger tendency toward the Truth. 70-86
Additional guidelines regarding what is legal and what is illegal have been provided in this section of the Surah in addition to those found in verses 1 through 10. 87-108
The mention of the conversation between Allah and His Prophets on the Day of Judgment at the end of the Surah has been made for the benefit of the disobedient people to serve as a corrective to their creeds. The discussion with Prophet Christ has been used as an example to caution people, particularly Christians who claim to believe in him, as well as generally all those who place unwarranted faith in their prophets, etc. 109-119
Conclusion: "O mankind! The Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah: therefore you should become His true servants and fear Him, for He has full powers over everything." 120