Seek The Means To Him And Strive In His Cause…’ – Quran 5:35
Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR
Background
Madinan verse.
Analysing Verse
“O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek the means [of nearness] to Him and strive in His cause that you may succeed.” – Quran 5:35
In Islamic scripture, Muslims are commanded to perform five acts of worship.
(1) Testifying that there is no god but God.
(2) Praying five times a day.
(3) Fasting in the month of Ramadan.
(4) Zakat, giving away a certain percentage of their income each year (2.5% of what you earn) to the poor and needy. (5) Going for Hajj, performing this pilgrimage to Makkah if you can afford to in your life-time.
All these mentioned have one goal, to become increasingly God conscious. The present verse (Q. 5:35) speaks about seeking closeness to God by doing good and following the commandments God has set in Scripture.
Commentaries
Tafsir al-Jalalayn:
“O you who believe, fear God, fear His chastisement, by being obedient to Him, and seek the means to Him, that obedience which brings you closer to Him, and struggle in His way, in order to elevate His religion; so that you might prosper, triumph.” [1]
Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsîr Ibn Abbas:
“(O ye who believe!) in Muhammad and the Qur’an (Be mindful of your duty to Allah) regarding that which He has commanded you, (and seek the way of approach unto Him) seek the highest rank; it is also said that this means: seek with Him high degrees through righteous works, (and strive in His way) in His obedience (in order that ye may succeed) so that you escape His wrath and torment and so that you attain to faith. [2]
A Comprehensive Commentary On The Quran – Reverend E. M. Wherry:
“(39) A bear conjunction. The original word means a helper or a means of accomplishing anything. The meaning here is that believers should seek the means of near approach to God, which means, say the commentators is obedience to his commandments.” [3]
References:
[1] Tafsir al-Jalalayn http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=5&tAyahNo=35&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2
[2] Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn Abbas http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=73&tSoraNo=5&tAyahNo=35&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2
[3] A Comprehensive Commentary on the Quran: Comprising Sale’s Translation and Preliminary Discourse – E. M. Wherry volume 2, page 133