5:89

Salaam all,


La yuakhithukumu Allahu biallaghwi fee aymanikum walakin yuakhithukum bima AAaqqadtumu alaymana fakaffaratuhu itAAamu AAasharati masakeena min awsati ma tutAAimoona ahleekum aw kiswatuhum aw tahreeru raqabatin faman lam yajid fasiyamu thalathati ayyamin thalika kaffaratu aymanikum itha halaftum waihfathoo aymanakum kathalika yubayyinu Allahu lakum ayatihi laAAallakum tashkuroona

The Aya says:
Allah will not hold you (plural) accountable by the uncountable in your oaths, but instead will hold you accountable by what you knotted of the oaths. Then his atonement is feeding ten poor people from the middle of what you feed your family, or clothing them or freeing a captive. So, if he did not find then fasting three days. That is atonement of your oaths if/when you swore one and preserve your oaths, as such Allah makes His signs clear for you perhaps you will thank.

My personal note:
This Aya brings about several subjects for discussion.
1- What is the LAGHAW which I translated as not counted. Linguistically, this is what the word means. The application of this term may cover any language used by the person which can be considered an oath when the intention of the person was not to make an oath. It also can actually cover a person who swears about something believing that it is true when it is not but he or she is not aware of the error.

2- The atonement that is offered here does not mean that a person can break any oath. The end of the Aya suggests that a person should preserve his oath rather than break it. However, there can be situations where it is better to break the oath and offer the atonement than to carry it on. There are two situations that come to mind and there are probably more than that where the situation applies:

A) If the person made an oath to do something, but discovered something better to do. Then making the atonement and doing the better would be an option.

B) If carrying the oath can lead to more harm than good, for example making an oath to divorce his wife if so and so happened, then it is better to break the oath and keep the wife and also make the atonement.

3- The Muslim scholars understood from early on that there is no atonement for a person who swears false testimony while knowing that it was false testimony. This is considered a major sin for which there is no atonement. It basically leaves the matter between the person and God for the Day of Judgment or the law in case it was discovered during his or her lifetime. This is much worse than offering an atonement because the atonement removes the accountability while he or she remains accountable unless God decided to forgive them because of repentance or otherwise and they will not know until they meet Him.

4- The last term is “perhaps they thank”. In essence, the essence of worshiping good is really thanking Him for all the good that He did to us humans and we thank Him in our hearts, tongues and deeds.

Translation of the transliterated words:

La: Not
Yuakhithukumu: will HE take you for what you took him/Will HE hold you accountable
Note: the root is Hamza-KH-TH and it means taking. YUAKHITHU is the third person singular present or future tense of a verb that is derived from the root. This verb suggests an interactive form and means HE becomes taking opposite taking. KUMU is the plural you. So, YUAKHITHUKUMU means HE becomes taking you for what you took him in a literal fashion and that means HE holds you accountable.
Allahu: ALLAH/GOD
Biallaghwi: by the not counted/ in the not counted
Note: Bi suggests that what comes after it is either an association with the action, a tool of the action or an object of the action or any combination of the three. If bi serves as an object of the action that it serves as an emphasis of the action. ALLAGHWI is derived from the root L-GHain-W and it means not counting or not counted . This is conceptually used for worthless talk or talk that was cancelled and therefore it does not count anymore. The count is in all planes of speech whether real count or quality count and so forth. ALLAGHWI means the not counted or the not countable.
Fee: in
Aymanikum: your oaths
Note: AYMANIKUM is derived from the root Y-M-N and it means right hand or right side. AYMANI are the plural for right hand or right side. This is the concrete and the abstract means oaths because people raise their right hands to make an oath. So, AYMANI are oaths of. KUM is plural you
Walakin: but

Yuakhithukum: will HE take you for what you took him/Will HE hold you accountable
Note: the root is Hamza-KH-TH and it means taking. YUAKHITHU is the third person singular present or future tense of a verb that is derived from the root. This verb suggests an interactive form and means HE becomes taking opposite taking. KUMU is the plural you. So, YUAKHITHUKUMU means HE becomes taking you for what you took him in a literal fashion and that means HE holds you accountable
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
AAaqqadtumu: you (plural) knotted/ you (plural) truly committed
Note: the root is Ain-Qaf-D and it means the tying of the knot in the concrete. Conceptually, it means the finishing of the process or the putting of something into effect and it also can mean making and fulfilling a contract. AAaQQADTUM is an action that is being completed. It means: the action of completing the knot happened by the subject (second person plural). Completing the knot then is conceptually meant to committing to the oath and so on.
Alaymana: The oaths
Note: ALAYMANA is derived from the root Y-M-N and it means right hand or right side. ALAYMANA are the plural for right hand or right side. This is the concrete and the abstract means oaths because people raise their right hands to make an oath. So, ALAYMANA are the oaths.

Fakaffaratuhu: then it’s atonement
Note: FA means then or therefore or so. KAFFARATUHU is derived from 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. KAFFARATU means the action that makes the bad deed buried and null and void, and it is used for atonement. HU means him and points to the oath that needs to voided or atoned

itAAamu: feeding/ making eat
Note: the root is TTa-Ain-M and it means anything that is eaten or put in the mouth. ITAAaMU means feeding or making an object eat.


AAasharati: ten
Masakeena: very poor/ resource-less
Note: MASAKEEN the root is S-K-N and it means Ashes which is the product of the end of the fire. The conceptual meaning has many forms and it means rest or lack of movement, but it also means the lack of energy or running out of energy. MASAKEEN are the persons that do not have energy or ability to maneuver. This is used for the poor who have no ability to move out of that situation.


Min: from/ of
Awsati: more middle of/ better of
Note: the root is W-S-TTa and it means between the two edges, therefore the non extreme. This, in an abstract form is considered to the best position since it is away from extremes and also as a piece of land the most protected most productive and so on. AWSATI means the most non extreme or more middle of.

Ma: what
tutAAimoona: feed
Note: the root is TTa-Ain-M and it means anything that is eaten or put in the mouth. TUTAAiMOONA is an action that is being completed or will be completed. It means: the action of feeding or making the object (Ahleekum=your people/ families) is happening or will be happening by the subject (second person plural)

Ahleekum: your people/ your families
Note: the root is Hamza-H-L and one concrete meaning of the word is the fat that surrounds the back of the animal. It is used conceptually to mean family or any of the people that are closely associated with the entity being discussed. This could be because they are like the fat as in they engulf and protect and so forth and gain protection at the same time. AHLEE means people of or family of. KUM is plural you.
Aw: or
Kiswatuhum: clothing them

Aw: or
Tahreeru: freeing
Note: the root is Ha-R-R and it means heating/energy. This is the concrete meaning. Conceptually it is also used for freedom where the heat is coming of itself and so on. TAHREERU in this context means freeing.

Raqabatin: a neck/ a captive/a slave/ a person not in control of his or her destiny
Note: the root is R-Qaf-B and it means neck for the concrete. The abstract is used to mean surveillance because the neck is an organ of surveillance. It is also used to mean control because the neck is an organ when controlled, the whole body follows. In this context RAQABATIN=Neck carries the concept of someone not in control of his or her destiny, including a slave, a prisoner of war and many others.

Faman: so who
Lam: not
Yajid; finds
Note: the root is W-J-D and it means in one concrete meaning the water that has accumulated in the desert. This is then used to mean a find that is really important. YAJID is an action that is derived from the root that is being completed or will be completed. It means: the action of finding is happening or will be happening by the subject (third person singular).
Fasiyamu: then fasting/ abstaining
Note: Fa means then or therefore or so. SIYAMU is derived from the root Sad-Y-M and it means abstinence or abstaining. This includes any form of abstaining including food, drink, speech and so forth. The word is used to mean fasting during the month of Ramadan but this should include other forms of abstaining to maintain the spirituality of the person. SIYAMU is the abstaining practice or the abstinence and that includes the fasting.
Thalathati: three
Ayyamin: days
Note: the root is Y-W-M and it means day. AYYAM means days.
Thalika: that
kaffaratu: : atonement of
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. KAFFARATU means the action that makes the bad deed buried and null and void, and it is used for atonement of.

aymanikum: your oaths
Note: AYMANIKUM is derived from the root Y-M-N and it means right hand or right side. AYMANI are the plural for right hand or right side. This is the concrete and the abstract means oaths because people raise their right hands to make an oath. So, AYMANI are oaths of. KUM is plural you
Itha: if and when
Halaftum: swore an oath
Note: the root is HA-L-F and it means swearing an oath. HALAFTUM is an action that is completed. It means: the action of swearing an oath happened by the subject (second person plural)

Waihfathoo: And safe keep/ and preserve/ protect/ maintain
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. IHFATHOO is derived from the root 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. IHFATHOO is an order or a request addressing a group. it means: safe keeper or preserve/ protect/ maintain.

aymanakum: your oaths
Note: AYMANAKUM is derived from the root Y-M-N and it means right hand or right side. AYMANI are the plural for right hand or right side. This is the concrete and the abstract means oaths because people raise their right hands to make an oath. So, AYMANA are oaths of. KUM is plural you
Kathalika: like that/ such
Yubayyinu: He makes clear/ He clarifies
Note: YUBAYYINU is derived the root B-Y-N and it means between. This word then assumes many meanings as separation and distancing between two or more things. It also carries the meaning of clarification between two things. Here, it adopts the meaning of clarification. YUBAYYINU is an action that is being completed or will be completed. It means: the action of making clear or clarify is happening by the subject (third person singular pointing to the messenger/envoy).
Allahu: Allah
Lakum: to you (plural)/ for you (plural)
Ayatihi: His signs
Note: AYAT is derived from the root Hamza-Y-H and it means sign. AYATI means signs of. HI means Him and it points to Allah

laAAallakum: perhaps you (plural)
tashkuroona: thank/ act in thanks/ act thankfully
Note: the root is SH-K-R and it means thanking and it is generally understood as thanking in words or deeds. TASHKUROON is an action that is being completed or will be completed. It means: the action of thanking the object (not mentioned but points to Allah) in words or deeds or in the heart is happening or will be happening by the subject (second person plural).


Salaam all and have a great day.

Hussein