The Style of Al-Maaidah 5: 73
Question
I want to ask about Al-Maaidah 5: 73. According to my understanding of the Arabic text (correct my understanding please), the beginning of this verse describes those people who believe that Allah is the third of three as " Kafara " [1] . The end of the verse promised a punishment for those who are " Kafaroo " [2] among them, not all of them. I mean that although all of them have been described as " Kafara " at the beginning of the verse, the end of the verse promises a punishment for those who are " Kafaroo " among them. What is the difference between the first group who has been described as " Kafara " and the second group, which is among the first group, who also has been described as " Kafaroo " but they will be punished?
Answer
The word ' Kafara ' and ' Kafaroo ' is actually the same verb, in its two forms (i.e. in singular and plural forms) and is used in the referred verse in two slightly different, yet related, connotations. The word ' Kafara ' may be translated as: "he blasphemed" or "he rejected". While ' Kafaroo ' may be translated as: "they blasphemed" or "they rejected". However, the connotation of the word in the first instance is slightly different from that in the second instance. This would become clear from a close look at the following translation of the verse: Indeed he blasphemes, who says that God is the third of the three. There is no god, except the one god. And if they [who are guilty of this blasphemy] do not desist from what they say, a painful punishment shall inflict the rejecters [of this message] among them. Why do they not turn to God and ask for His forgiveness? And [if they do so, they shall find that] God is forgiving, merciful. ( Al-Maaidah 5: 73 - 74) In these verses, it has been declared that the belief that God is one of the three (i.e. the third of the three) is a blasphemous belief. Thus, whoever ascribes to such belief is guilty of blasphemy against God, because there is no god except the one god and ascribing to such a belief is actually like ascribing partners to the one God. These people, who ascribe to this belief, should now desist from their blasphemy and believe in the message revealed upon them through the Prophet (pbuh). However, if they reject the Prophet (pbuh) and the message that has been revealed upon him and persist in their blasphemy, then a painful chastisement shall inflict them. They have been given an opportunity for salvation and for undoing all the wrongs that they have been guilty of, yet strange as it is, they refuse to take advantage of this opportunity and persist in their wrongful beliefs. Had they turned to God and asked for His forgiveness, they would have found Him forgiving and merciful. As should be clear from the translation of the related verses and the following explanation that in the first instance, the word has been used to connote an involvement in a blasphemy, while in the second instance, the word has been used to connote rejection of the message of God and His messenger. August 16, 2000 [1] lit: 'He rejected'. [2] lit: 'They rejected'. Answer published by Moiz Amjad
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