5:44

Salaam all,



5:44
Inna anzalna alttawrata feeha hudan wanoorun yahkumu biha alnnabiyyoona allatheena aslamoo lillatheena hadoo waalrrabbaniyyoona waalahbaru bima istuhfithoo min kitabi Allahi wakanoo AAalayhi shuhadaa fala takhshawoo alnnasa waikhshawni wala tashtaroo biayatee thamanan qaleelan waman lam yahkum bima anzala Allahu faolaika humu alkafiroona

The aya says:
Indeed WE brought down the TORAH. In her (Torah) are guidance and light. By her, rules the prophets who committed themselves to Allah, as well as the Godly people and the scholars, to those who were Jewish, by what they were entrusted to safe keep of Allah’s book. And they happened to be witnesses upon him (the book of God). Therefore do not fear the people and fear ME (Allah), and do not take, by my signs, a cheap price. And Whomeve does not rule by what Allah brought down then those are the rejectors.

My personal note:
The term RAbbaniyyoon is translated as the Godly people, but the word carries many potential meanings that apply. They include the people who are Godly as well as the people of nurturing as in teachers and any people who lead to the straight path.

The other term is KHASHYA. It carries carries fear within it, but mixed with hope. So, the order to fear Allah here is a fear with hope, because there is always hope in Allah’s love and Mercy.

The last statement in here is also very important. It says: “And whomever does not rule by what Allah brought down then those are the rejectors”. This is to be looked at as rejectors or KAFIRS in contrast to the term MUMIN that came in the preceding Aya. So, this is KUFR as opposed to Iman and since Iman does not fall under an all or none rule, then this particular Kufr that is contrasted with it, is also not an all or none rule. However, it suggests rejecting part or parts of the message of Allah and that makes their Iman deficient but not necessarily absent, although it could be. However, this is not Kufr contrasting with Islam, which would make them become non Muslims.

It is important to remember the important discussion between Ibn Abbas ® and the Khawarej, an early Muslim group that declared the Caliph of the Muslims Ali ® as Kafir. When Ibn Abbas met them, they brought this Aya and Ibn Abbas responded: “Kufr la yukhrij aan Al Milla= Rejection that does not take you out of the religion (Islam)”. Of course, he could have argued with them, correctly, that Ali ® did nothing of what they claimed, but Ibn Abbas ® was wise enough to send a message to all Muslims that come after him to be careful not to misunderstand this Aya and not to misuse it.

Trasnlation of the transliterated words:

Inna: indeed WE
Anzalna: brought down/ made come/ descend from high
Note: the root is N-Z-L and it carries the meaning of arrival to stay and descent. One concrete meaning is the descent of the person from his or her horse or camel as they arrive at the place where they plan to stay. ANZALNA is an action that is completed. It means: the action of making arrive or making descend happened by the subject (first person plural).
Alttawrata: The TORAH
Feeha: in her
Hudan: guidance
Note: The root is H-D-Y and it means gift in all it’s forms and it carries the meaning of guidance since guidance is a gift. HUDAN is guidance or gift of guidance.
Wanoorun: and light/ including light
Note: WA is a letter that links what is before with what is after. This link is through inclusion, either one is included in the other or they are all included in the bigger sentence or bigger picture. WA often corresponds with “and/ addition” but the more encompassing meaning is in inclusion one in another or all in a bigger picture or sentence. Noorun is derived from the root N-W-R and it means lighting. This could be lighting light or lighting fire according to the word and the context. NOORUN means light.

yahkumu: rules/ judges/ steers
Note: the root Ha-K-M and it means the steer that steers the animal. This word is used for ruling and judging as well as other meanings that contain steering as part of the concept. HAKEEM means wise or the steering. The steering means the entity that steers in the best way possible using the best tools of knowledge, compassion, justice and mercy, and that is wisdom. YAHKUMU is an action that is being completed or will be completed. It means: the action of ruling or judging is happening by the subject (third person singular).
biha: by her/ with her/ in her
Note: Bi denotes that what comes after is a tool and/or an object or an association with an action that was mentioned. If it is an object of the action then it makes it stronger. HA means her and it points to the TORAH
Alnnabiyyoona: the prophets
Note: ALNNABIYYOONA is derived from either one of two roots. The first is N-B-Hamza and it means news. The other is N-B-Y and it means elevated. The word NABIYY means a prophet, and it could be because the prophet brings news or that he is elevated over others or both. ALANBIYYOONA means: the prophets.

Allatheena: those who/ who
Aslamoo: committed themselves to Allah
Note: the root is S-L-M and it means dissociation from an entity to re-associate with another that is better. This carries the meaning of health and safety. It also carries the meaning of delivery from one to another and it carries the meaning of peace, since it is the dissociation from harm to peace. ALISLAMA is the committing to the better entity and that is the commitment to Allah. ASLAMOO is an action that is completed. It means: the action of committing oneself to Allah happened by the subject (third person plural).

Lillatheena: to those who
Hadoo: were jewish
Note: the root is H-W-D and it means repentance and return to God. It is used mainly to point to Judaism, often specifically. HADOO is an action that is completed. It means: the action of becoming Jewish happened by the subject (third person plural).
Waalrrabbaniyyoona: and the people of the nurturing lord/ and the nurturing people/teachers
Note: WA is a letter that links what is before with what is after. This link is through inclusion, either one is included in the other or they are all included in the bigger sentence or bigger picture. WA often corresponds with “and/ addition” but the more encompassing meaning is in inclusion one in another or all in a bigger picture or sentence. ALRRABBANIYYOONA is derived from the root R-B-B and it means lordship and nurturing at the same time. It gives authority and nurture at the same time. ALRRABBANIYYOONA are people of the nurturing Lord or it can mean the nurturing people or teachers or all the above.. This means that they would be the ones that follow him and will be accepted by him at the same time.

Waalahbaru: and the scholars
Note: WA is a letter that links what is before with what is after. This link is through inclusion, either one is included in the other or they are all included in the bigger sentence or bigger picture. WA often corresponds with “and/ addition” but the more encompassing meaning is in inclusion one in another or all in a bigger picture or sentence. ALAHBARU is derived from the root HA-B-R and it means in concrete: ink in which one writes. This is then conceptually used for knowledge as well as for beautifying things because of the beauty of writing and calligraphy. ALAHBARU are the scholars and it seems to be used more for Israelite scholars.
Bima: by what/ with what/ in what
Note: Bi denotes that what comes after is a tool and/or an object or an association with an action that was mentioned. If it is an object of the action then it makes it stronger. MA means what

Istuhfithoo: what they were made to safe keep/ preserve
Note: the root is Ha-F-THa and it means preservation and protection, and within that concept, also maintenance and upkeep. In one word, the concept of safe keeping comes to mind. This concept of safe keeping will then depend on the context to understand it’s specific meaning in the sentence. ISTUHFITHOO is an action that is completed. It means: the action of making the object (third person plural) safe keep another object happened by an undeclared subject. The “safe keep” here suggests retaining knowledge and honestly sharing it with others as well as preserving it from being tampered with.
Min: of/ from
Kitabi: book of
Note: the root K-T-B and it means putting things together as in grouping the herd together or closing the lips or writing (the most common use), because in writing, one puts the letters and the ideas together. KITABI means, process of writing or the book or anything related to it from the ideas to the ink and paper to the place where all is put together.

Allahi: Allah
Wakanoo: and they happened to be
Note: WA is a letter that links what is before with what is after. This link is through inclusion, either one is included in the other or they are all included in the bigger sentence or bigger picture. WA often corresponds with “and/ addition” but the more encompassing meaning is in inclusion one in another or all in a bigger picture or sentence. KANOO is derived from the root K-W-N and it means being. KANOO is an action that is completed that is derived from the root. It means: the action of being happened by the subject (third personal plural). This in turn means: they were or they happened to be
AAalayhi: upon him (the book of God)
Shuhadaa: witnesses/ witnessing
Note: SHUHADAA is derived from the root SH-H-D and it means witnessing of truth and it also denotes that the witness knows very well what he or she is witnessing about. The concrete meaning is the honey mixed with wax therefore the wax is the witness of the truth that the honey is the honey. Another concrete meaning is the baby that was just born and is covered with a membrane. In both, there is close association which is proof or witness of the fact. SHUHADAA means witnesses or a group that is witnessing
Fala: then not
Takhshawoo: you (plural) fear mixed with some hope
Note: the root is KH-SH-Y and it carries meanings of anticipation and fear. Sometimes, both meanings are together and sometimes only fear. When there is anticipation, then there may be an element of fear mixed with hope. TAKHSHAWOO is an action that is happening or will be happening. It means: the action of fearing the object (ALNNASA= the people/ the society) is happening or will be happening by the subject (second person plural).
Alnnasa: the people/ the society
Note: ALNNAS is derived from the root Hamza-N-S and it means socializing. ALNNAS are the society/the people.

Waikhshawni: and fear me/ instead fear me mixed with hope.
Note: WA is a letter that links what is before with what is after. This link is through inclusion, either one is included in the other or they are all included in the bigger sentence or bigger picture. WA is often translated as an addition (and), but inclusion probably covers the meaning a little better. IKHSHAWNI is derived from the root KH-SH-Y and it carries meanings of anticipation and fear. Sometimes, both meanings are together and sometimes only fear. When there is anticipation, then there may be an element of fear mixed with hope. IKHSHAWNI is an order addressed to a group. It means: fear me with some hope.
Wala: and not/ while not

Tashtaroo: you (plural) buy to yourselves/ you take in exchange
Note: the root is SH-R-Y and it means selling something to get something in return or buying something and paying with something else or taking something and giving in return something else. TASHTAROO is an action that is being completed or will be completed. It means: the action of taking an object (thaman Qaleelan=little price) in exchange for another object (BIAYATEE= by my sings) is happening or will be happening by the subject (second person plural).
Biayatee: in my signs/ by my sings
Note: Bi denotes that what comes after is a tool and/or an object or an association with an action that was mentioned. If it is an object of the action then it makes it stronger. AYAT is derived from the root Hamza-Y-H and it means sign. AYATEE means my sings.
Thamanan: a price
Note: the root is TH-M-N and it means eight as the number eight. This is the concrete and for the abstract it is used to mean price or at times pricey.
Qaleelan: a little/ cheap
Note: the root is Qaf-L-L and it means becoming few in quality or quantity. QALEELAN is little or few in quality and in quantity.
Waman: and whomever
Lam: not
yahkum: rules/ judges/ steers
Note: the root Ha-K-M and it means the steer that steers the animal. This word is used for ruling and judging as well as other meanings that contain steering as part of the concept. HAKEEM means wise or the steering. The steering means the entity that steers in the best way possible using the best tools of knowledge, compassion, justice and mercy, and that is wisdom. YAHKUM is an action that is being completed or will be completed. It means: the action of ruling or judging is happening by the subject (third person singular).
Bima: by what/ with what/ in what
Note: Bi denotes that what comes after is a tool and/or an object or an association with an action that was mentioned. If it is an object of the action then it makes it stronger. MA means what

Anzala: He made come down/ He made arrive
Note: the root is N-Z-L and it carries the meaning of arrival to stay and descent. One concrete meaning is the descent of the person from his or her horse or camel as they arrive at the place where they plan to stay. ANZALA is an action that is completed. It means: the action of making arrive or making descend happened by the subject (third person singular).
Allahu: Allah
Faolaika: then those
Humu: they
alkafiroona the rejecters/ the discarders of truth
Note: the root is K-F-R and it means cover or bury in the ground, as in put the seed in the ground and cover it. This is then used conceptually for many purposes as in discarding and rejecting as well as burying. ALKAFIROONA are the ones who reject the truth or discard it.

Salaam all and have a great day.

Hussein