Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 87

(Ayah 87) {لَا تُحَرِّمُوْا طَيِّبٰتِ مَاۤ اَحَلَّ اللّٰهُ لَكُمْ …: } After the discussion with the Jews and Christians regarding breaking covenants, now attention is again directed to the main subject, that is, the explanation of {’’اَوْفُوْا بِالْعُقُوْدِ ‘‘}, which is the fundamental topic of this surah. (Qurtubi, Razi) After praising the monks of the Christians, forbidding the declaration of pure things as unlawful was even more appropriate because they had included such things in acts of piety, therefore the believers were prohibited from this. Allah Almighty said regarding monasticism: «وَ رَهْبَانِيَّةَ اِبْتَدَعُوْهَا مَا كَتَبْنٰهَا عَلَيْهِمْ » [ الحدید : ۲۷ ] "And monasticism—they invented it themselves; We did not prescribe it for them."

Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) says that to abstain from something that is clearly lawful in the Shariah is bad; this happens in two ways: one is through asceticism, which is monasticism, and this is not liked in our religion. Instead, one should adopt taqwa, that is, not go near prohibited things. Secondly, if someone swears an oath not to do a permissible (lawful) act, this too is not better; he should break the oath and pay the expiation." (Mowdih) Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that three men came to the houses of the wives of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), inquiring about the worship of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When they were informed about it, it was as if they considered it little and said, "What comparison do we have with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? His past and future sins have been forgiven." One of them said, "I will pray all night and never sleep." The second said, "I will fast continuously and never break my fast." The third said, "I will keep away from women and never marry." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came and said, "Are you the people who said such and such? By Allah! I am the most fearful of Allah and most conscious of Him among you, but I fast and I also do not fast, I pray and I sleep, and I marry women. So whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me." [ مسلم، النکاح، باب استحباب النکاح لمن تاقت نفسہ… : ۱۴۰۱۔ بخاری : ۵۰۶۳ ] There are several other narrations in this regard, some of which explicitly state that this verse was revealed on such an occasion. Thus, Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says that we used to fight in battles with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and we did not have our wives with us, so we said, "Should we not castrate ourselves?" But the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade us from this, then he permitted us to marry women temporarily with a garment, then he recited this verse: «يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تُحَرِّمُوْا طَيِّبٰتِ» [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب قولہ تعالٰی : {یأیہا الذین آمنوا …} : ۴۶۱۵ ] It should be noted that after this, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) made mut'ah permanently unlawful. Thus, Sabrah (bin Ma'bad) (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he was with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "O people! I had permitted you to contract mut'ah with women, but indeed Allah has made it unlawful until the Day of Resurrection, so whoever has any such women with him, let him leave them, and do not take back anything you have given them." [ مسلم، النکاح، باب نکاح المتعۃ وبیان أنہ … : 1406/21 ]