An-Nisa · Madani · ayah 160 of 176

An-Nisa 4:160

فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبَـٰتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًا

“For wrongdoing on the part of the Jews, We made unlawful for them [certain] good foods which had been lawful to them, and for their averting from the way of Allāh many [people],”

Saheeh International

Essence

Wrongdoing cost a people good things once lawful to them, and barring others from Allah's way multiplied the harm: history with lessons for all.

A reflection

Only the Owner draws the line

'We made unlawful for them good things that had been lawful to them.' Two verbs sit side by side: made unlawful, made lawful. Both belong to Allah.

The root of ḥarramnā has a protective picture. One lexicon describes the ḥarīm of a well: the ring of ground around it where no one else may dig, so the water stays safe. The same root names the sanctuaries of Makkah and Madinah, where harm may not be done. What Allah forbids is fenced off, and only He sets the fence.

That is the majesty in the ayah. The world and everything in it belong to its Creator. He alone decides what is open and what is closed, and when.

The Quran warns everyone, Muslims included, against taking that role for themselves. Do not say, of what your tongues describe falsely, 'This is lawful and this is forbidden', inventing lies about Allah (16:116). One commentary on this ayah notes that some restrictions may have come about because people, by their own strict interpretations, made things hard on themselves.

The ego loves to legislate. It is satisfying to pronounce on what others may eat, wear or do. It feels like standing a little closer to the throne.

Picture an uncle who announces at every family meal which dishes are acceptable and which are not. He cites no one. His nieces have started eating before he arrives.

The ayah quietly corrects him, and us. The line between lawful and unlawful is drawn by the Owner of the well. Our task is to learn where He drew it, humbly, not to draw new lines of our own.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.