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Surah Al-Ma’idah, Verse 66

سورة المائدة، الآية ٦٦

5:66 Juz 6 Hizb 12 Page 119 of the mushaf Medinan surah

Text of verse 5:66

وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ أَقَامُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِم مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ لَأَكَلُوا۟ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِم مِّنْهُمْ أُمَّةٌ مُّقْتَصِدَةٌ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ سَآءَ مَا يَعْمَلُونَ ۝٦٦

Transliteration

walaw annahum aqāmū l-tawrāta wal-injīla wamā unzila ilayhim min rabbihim la-akalū min fawqihim wamin taḥti arjulihim min'hum ummatun muq'taṣidatun wakathīrun min'hum sāa mā yaʿmalūna

Translation

And if only they had upheld [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to them from their Lord [i.e., the Qur’ān], they would have consumed [provision] from above them and from beneath their feet.274 Among them are a moderate [i.e., acceptable] community, but many of them - evil is that which they do.

Notes

[274] i.e., in great abundance.

Translation in another language
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary Read in the surah

Verse 66 of Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:66), a Medinan surah, is in juz 6, on page 119 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.

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Tafsir of verse 66

Al-Mukhtasar

If the Jews had practiced what was in the Torah, and the Christians practiced what was in the Gospel, and if all of them had practiced what was revealed to them in the Qur’ān, then I would have made the means of provision easy for them by sending down rain and growing vegetation. From amongst the People of the Scripture are those who are moderate and firm on the truth; but the actions of many of them are evil, because they do not have faith in what was brought by Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Tafsir of the whole Surah Al-Ma’idah

Other translations of verse 66

If they had upheld the Torah and the Gospel, and what has been sent down to them from their Lord, they would have been given abundant provisions from above them and from below their feet. Among them are some who are on the right way, but most of them do evil deeds.

And if only they had acted according to the Taurât (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to them from their Lord (the Qur’ân), they would surely have gotten provision from above them and from underneath their feet. There are from among them people who are on the right course (i.e. they act on the revelation and believe in Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم as ‘Abdullâh bin Salâm23 رضي الله عنه), but many of them do evil deeds.

Notes

[23] (V.5: 66) Narrated Anas رضي الله عنه: When the news of the arrival of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, at Al-Madinah reached ‘Abdullâh bin Salâm, he went to him (i.e. the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) to ask him about certain things. He said, "I am going to ask you about three things which only a Prophet can answer: What is the first sign of The Hour? What is the first food which the people of Paradise will eat? Why does a child attract the similarity to his father or to his mother?" the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, "Jibrael (Gabriel) has just now informed me of that." Ibn Salâm said, "He [i.e. Jibrael (Gabriel)] is the enemy of the Jews from amongst the angels." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "As for the first sign of The Hour, it will be a fire that will collect (or gather) the people from the east to the west. As for the first meal which the people of Paradise will eat, it will be the caudate (extra) lobe of the fish-liver. As for the child, if the man’s discharge precedes the woman’s discharge, the child attracts the similarity to the man, and if the woman’s discharge precedes the man’s, then the child attracts the similarity to the woman." On this, ‘Abdullâh bin Salâm said, "I testify that Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh) and that you are the Messenger of Allâh", and added, "O Allâh’s Messenger! Jews make such lies as make one astonished, so please ask them about me before they know about my conversion to Islâm."
The Jews came and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "What kind of man is ‘Abdullâh bin Salâm among you?" They replied, "The best of us and the son of the best of us and the most superior among us, and the son of the most superior among us." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "What would you think if ‘Abdullâh bin Salâm should embrace Islâm?" They said, "May Allâh protect him from that." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم repeated his question and they gave the same answer, then ‘Abdullâh came out to them and said. "I testify that Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh), and that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is the Messenger of Allâh!" On this, the Jews said, "He is the most wicked among us and the son of the most wicked among us." So they degraded him. On this, he (i.e. ‘Abdullâh bin Salâm) said, "It is this that I was afraid of, O Allâh’s Messenger." (Sahih Al-Bukhârî, Vol.5, Hadîth No.275).

If they had observed the Torah and the Gospel and that which was revealed unto them from their Lord, they would surely have been nourished from above them and from beneath their feet. Among them there are people who are moderate, but many of them are of evil conduct.

If only they had stood fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There is from among them a party on the right course: but many of them follow a course that is evil.

And if they had kept up the Taurat and the Injeel and that which was revealed to them from their Lord, they would certainly have eaten from above them and from beneath their feet there is a party of them keeping to the moderate course, and (as for) most of them, evil is that which they do

And if they had kept up the Tawrah (The Book revealed to Musa "Moses") and the Injil (The Book revealed to Isa "Jesus") and what was sent down to them from their Lord, they would indeed have eaten from above them and from beneath their legs (i.e., beneath their feet). Among them is a moderate nation, and many of them-odious is whatever they do.

Verse 66 word by word

  1. وَلَوْ walaw And if
  2. أَنَّهُمْ annahum that they
  3. أَقَامُوا۟ aqāmū had stood firmly ق و م
  4. ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ l-tawrāta (by) the Taurat
  5. وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ wal-injīla and the Injeel
  6. وَمَآ wamā and what
  7. أُنزِلَ unzila was revealed ن ز ل
  8. إِلَيْهِم ilayhim to them
  9. مِّن min from
  10. رَّبِّهِمْ rabbihim their Lord ر ب ب
  11. لَأَكَلُوا۟ la-akalū surely they (would have) eaten أ ك ل
  12. مِن min from
  13. فَوْقِهِمْ fawqihim above them ف و ق
  14. وَمِن wamin and from
  15. تَحْتِ taḥti beneath ت ح ت
  16. أَرْجُلِهِم arjulihim their feet ر ج ل
  17. مِّنْهُمْ min'hum Among them
  18. أُمَّةٌ ummatun (is) a community أ م م
  19. مُّقْتَصِدَةٌ muq'taṣidatun moderate ق ص د
  20. وَكَثِيرٌ wakathīrun but many ك ث ر
  21. مِّنْهُمْ min'hum of them
  22. سَآءَ sāa evil س و أ
  23. مَا mā (is) what
  24. يَعْمَلُونَ yaʿmalūna they do ع م ل

Verses related to verse 66

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • Al-A’raf 7:96

    وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا۟ فَأَخَذْنَٰهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ

    And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allāh, We would have opened [i.e., bestowed] upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning.

  • Ar-Rum 30:41

    ظَهَرَ ٱلْفَسَادُ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِى ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى عَمِلُوا۟ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

    Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He [i.e., Allāh] may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].

  • Al-A’raf 7:159

    وَمِن قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰٓ أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَبِهِۦ يَعْدِلُونَ

    And among the people of Moses is a community which guides by truth and by it establishes justice.

  • Al-Hadid 57:27

    ثُمَّ قَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ ٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ٱبْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَٰهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ رِضْوَٰنِ ٱللَّهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا فَـَٔاتَيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَٰسِقُونَ

    Then We sent following their footsteps [i.e., traditions] Our messengers and followed [them] with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy and monasticism, which they innovated; We did not prescribe it for them except [that they did so] seeking the approval of Allāh. But they did not observe it with due observance. So We gave the ones who believed among them their reward, but many of them are defiantly disobedient.

  • Fatir 35:32–33

    ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا ٱلْكِتَٰبَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌۢ بِٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَضْلُ ٱلْكَبِيرُ …

    Then We caused to inherit the Book those We have chosen of Our servants; and among them is he who wrongs himself [i.e., sins], and among them is he who is moderate, and among them is he who is foremost in good deeds by permission of Allāh. That [inheritance] is what is the great bounty. …

  • Al-A’raf 7:181

    وَمِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَآ أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَبِهِۦ يَعْدِلُونَ

    And among those We created is a community which guides by truth and thereby establishes justice.

Verses with similar wording

They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.

  • Al-’Ankabut 29:55

    يَوْمَ يَغْشَىٰهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِمْ وَيَقُولُ ذُوقُوا۟ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

    On the Day the punishment will cover them from above them and from below their feet and it is said, "Taste [the result of] what you used to do."

  • Al-Ma’idah 5:68

    قُلْ يَٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰ تُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَٰنًا وَكُفْرًا فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

    Say, "O People of the Scripture, you are [standing] on nothing until you uphold [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord [i.e., the Qur’ān]." And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will surely increase many of them in transgression and disbelief. So do not grieve over the disbelieving people.

All similar verses of Surah Al-Ma’idah

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