The Themes of the Sixth Juzʾ

To complete some of the general themes: this was the sixth juzʾ. First, much of the discussion concerns the Ahl al-Kitāb, as has been seen — the position of the Christians and the Jews, and the various things they did with different prophets. A strong emphasis falls on not exaggerating, not going to excess, in one's religion. Another theme is Sūrat al-Māʾidah itself — and nothing has yet been read of the māʾidah, the spread, the food spread. The food spread of the people of ʿĪsā (peace be upon him) is taken up further on, in the seventh juzʾ. But Allah says: awfū bi-l-ʿuqūd — fulfil your covenants. That is of great importance, and it is the beginning of the sūrah, verse one.

It was not possible to go through all of it; but in this sūrah, Sūrat al-Māʾidah, eighteen rulings are set out — eighteen commands relating to ḥalāl, ḥarām and the like — and, notably, none of them has been abrogated. As said, those in the food industry especially, and others — Muslims in general — should read and understand them, and take them to heart. Then there is the āyah of wuḍūʾ and tayammum, of what causes impurity, and of purity in general. Another verse concerned standing up to bear witness to the truth; and one passage passed over was a further discussion of amr bi-l-maʿrūf wa-nahy ʿani al-munkar — commanding good and prohibiting evil. Then the account of Mūsā (peace be upon him) telling his people: it is for you now; this land, the blessed land, is for you; go in and take it, and Allah will help you. Yet even there they refused, and they provoked Mūsā (peace be upon him), until it was for a time forbidden them as a punishment. Then the prohibition — rather, the warning — against causing fasād and corruption in the land and unwarranted killing, and instead the encouragement to preserve life: wa-man aḥyāhā fa-ka-annamā aḥyā al-nāsa jamīʿā, a verse of great importance. Then the discussion of the revealing of the books; of ʿĪsā (peace be upon him) and his mother being human beings, and the rest; and the prohibition of taking one's enemies as friends.