Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 35

(Ayah 35) ➊{ يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ ……:} That is, any good deed done in obedience to the Messenger is accepted (because now, to attain nearness to Allah, there is no means except obedience to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him), and if done by intellect alone without this, then (it) is not accepted. (Muwaddih) The word {’’ الْوَسِيْلَةَ ‘‘} is on the pattern of {’’ فَعِيْلَةٌ ‘‘} from {’’ تَوَسَّلْتُ إِلَيْهِ ‘‘}. Its plural is {’’وَسَائِلُ ‘‘}, its literal meaning is nearness, and it refers to anything by which nearness to Allah Almighty is attained. In this verse, after commanding the attainment of Allah’s taqwa and His nearness, the command of jihad is given, so it is understood that the means of attaining Allah’s taqwa and His nearness is striving in His path (especially fighting). For this purpose, it is also permissible to ask a living person to pray, but to say by mentioning the name of any living or dead person, “O Allah! Accept our prayer by the means or intercession of so-and-so,” is neither proven from the Qur’an nor from any Sahih hadith. However, one can supplicate by means of Allah’s essence and attributes or by presenting one’s own sincere deed; this is proven from the Qur’an and Sunnah. Wasilah is also the name of a rank, in which the meaning of nearness is also considered. Amr bin Al-As, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: “When you hear the mu’adhdhin, say as he says, then send blessings upon me. Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send mercy upon him ten times. Then supplicate for wasilah for me. Wasilah is a rank in Paradise which will be granted to only one of Allah’s servants, and I hope that I am that servant. Therefore, whoever supplicates for wasilah for me, my intercession will become obligatory for him.” [ مسلم، الصلاۃ، باب استحباب القول مثل قول المؤذن…… : ۳۸۴] The nearness of Allah (wasilah) is such a great blessing that the closer a person is to Allah Almighty, the more he prays and strives for further nearness. See Bani Isra’il (57).

➋ {لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَ:} The Jews were proud of their lineage and, in this delusion, continued to commit all kinds of crimes and considered themselves beloved of Allah, as has been mentioned in the previous verses. Now, in this verse, Muslims are taught that although you are the best ummah and your Prophet is also the most excellent, you should strive to attain nearness to Allah Almighty through righteous deeds and strive in the path of Allah, so that you may attain success in the Hereafter, that is, do not become evil-doers like the Jews. (Kabir)