Surah 59. Al-Hashr, Ayah 5
| مَا قَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ لِينَةٍ أَوْ تَرَكْتُمُوهَا قَائِمَةً عَلَىٰ أُصُولِهَا فَبِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَلِيُخْزِيَ الْفَاسِقِينَ |
| Transliteration | : | maa qat.actum min lenah 'aw taraktumo -haa qaa'imah calaa 'us.ol -haa fa- bi- 'idhn 'allaah wa- li- yukhziya al- faasiqen |
| Pickthall | : | Whatsoever palm trees ye cut down or left standing on their roots, it was by Allah's leave, in order that He might confound the evil-livers. |
| Asad | : | Whatever [of their] palm trees you may have cut down, [O believers,] or left standing on their roots, was [done] by God's leave,5 and in order that He might confound the iniquitous. |
| Malik | : | Whatever palm-trees you cut down or left them standing on their roots, was by the leave of Allah, so that He might humiliate the transgressors. |
| Yusuf Ali | : | Whether ye cut down (o ye Muslims!) the tender palm-trees or ye left them standing on their roots it was by leave of Allah and in order that He might cover with shame the rebellious transgressors. 5375 5376 |
Note - 5I.e., to facilitate the military operations against the
strongholds of the Banu 'n-Nadir ('Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud,
as quoted by Zamakhshari et al.). It should, however, be
noted that apart from such stringent military exigencies,
all destruction of enemy property - and, in particular,
of trees and crops - had been and continued to be
prohibited by the Prophet (Tabari, Baghawi, Zamakhshari,
Razi, Ibn Kathir), and has thus become an integral part
of Islamic Law.
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Note - 5375The unnecessary cutting down of fruit trees or
destruction of crops, or any wanton destruction whatever
in war, is forbidden by the law and practice of Islam.
But some destruction may be necessary for putting
pressure on the enemy, and to that extent it is allowed.
But as far as possible, consistently with that objective
of military operations, such trees should not be cut
down. Both these principles are in accordance with the
Divine Will, and were followed by the Muslims in their
expedition.
|
Note - 5376The arrogance of the Banu Nadhir had to be humbled, and
their power for mischief destroyed.
|
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I.e., to facilitate the military operations against the strongholds of the Banu 'n-Nadir ('Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud, as quoted by Zamakhshari et al.). It should, however, be noted that apart from such stringent military exigencies, all destruction of enemy property - and, in particular, of trees and crops - had been and continued to be prohibited by the Prophet (Tabari, Baghawi, Zamakhshari, Razi, Ibn Kathir), and has thus become an integral part of Islamic Law. |
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The unnecessary cutting down of fruit trees or destruction of crops, or any wanton destruction whatever in war, is forbidden by the law and practice of Islam. But some destruction may be necessary for putting pressure on the enemy, and to that extent it is allowed. But as far as possible, consistently with that objective of military operations, such trees should not be cut down. Both these principles are in accordance with the Divine Will, and were followed by the Muslims in their expedition. |
