Surah Al-Maidah — Verse 96

Word Meanings:

• Sayd al-Bahr (صيد البحر): What is caught from the sea or any body of water, whether alive or dead.
• Ta'amuhu (وطعامه): What the sea provides as food, including what is found dead or cast ashore.
• Matā'an (متاعًا): A provision and benefit for your use and enjoyment.
• As-Sayyārah (السيارة): Travelers and those passing by, whether on land or sea journeys.
• Huruman (حُرُمًا): The state of Ihrām — the sacred state of pilgrimage (Hajj or 'Umrah) during which certain acts are restricted.
• Tuhsharūn (تحشرون): You will be gathered and resurrected before Allah for judgment.

Tafsir (Explanation):

O believers, Allah, in His infinite mercy and wisdom, has made lawful for you the catch of the sea — every creature that lives in water and cannot survive outside of it — whether you catch it alive or find it already dead, as long as it is from the sea itself. This includes fish and other sea creatures that are permissible to eat. This is a great blessing and a provision from Allah, benefiting both those who reside near the coasts and those who travel, whether by land or by sea, for they can take from it as sustenance for their journeys. The permissibility of sea catch applies to everyone, including the pilgrim in the state of Ihrām, for the sea is not subject to the restrictions of the sacred state.

However, Allah has made unlawful for you the hunting of land animals while you are in the state of Ihrām — whether for Hajj or 'Umrah. This prohibition is a test of your obedience and self-restraint, teaching you to honor the sanctity of the sacred rites and to respect the lives of creatures on land during this holy state. The wisdom behind this is to cultivate in you a spirit of submission, patience, and reverence for the commands of Allah.

Then Allah concludes with a powerful reminder: "And fear Allah, to Whom you will be gathered." This is a call to taqwa — God-consciousness — urging you to be mindful of Allah in all your actions, to obey His commands and abstain from His prohibitions, for you will all return to Him on the Day of Resurrection. On that Day, He will hold you accountable for every deed, whether great or small, and recompense you with justice and mercy. So let this awareness guide your conduct, and let the ease Allah has provided in His religion fill your heart with gratitude and love for Him, for He has made your religion one of ease and not hardship. Embrace this beautiful balance — the lawful and the prohibited — and know that in every command of Allah lies wisdom, mercy, and a path to His pleasure and eternal success.