Balaghal ula bi-kamalihi, Kashafad-duja bi-jamalihi

A. K.M. Fazlur Rahman Munshi

Hazrat Ka’b al-Ahbar’s (R.A.) narrative also contains this. I asked Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A.), ‘I know a community that, had this verse been revealed to them, would have celebrated that day as an Eid (a day of festival)’. ‘Which verse is that?’ questioned Hazrat Umar (R.A.). I answered, ‘The verse is-

Al-yawma akmaltu lakum deenakum wa atmamtu ‘alaykum ni’mati wa radeetu lakumu al-islama deena’.

Meaning: ‘On this day, I have finished my favour upon you, perfected your religion, and approved Islam as your religion’.

Asqalani: Fath al-Bari, Vol. 1, p. 105, Narration No. 45 (a). (b) Verse 3 of Surah Al-Ma’idah

Hazrat Umar (R.A.) responded as follows: ‘I am aware that this verse was revealed on the Day of Arafah, which was a Friday. We had previously observed Friday and the Day of Arafah as Eid holidays’.

[a) Asqalani: Fath al-Bari, Vol. 1, p. 105, Narration No. 45; (b) Tabarani: Al-Mu’jam al-Awsat, Vol. 1, p. 252, Narration No. 83; (c) Ibn Kathir: Tafseer al-Qur’an al-Azeem, Vol. 2, p. 14]

The Jewish perspective was seen as reliable since the previously mentioned narrations demonstrate its accuracy. If not, Hazrat Umar (R.A.) would have declared clearly that ‘Islamic Sharia has fixed our Eid days for us, which is why we cannot celebrate the day of this verse’s revelation as a separate Eid’. To put it another way, Hazrat Umar (R.A.) persuaded the Jewish scholar that Muslims already celebrate Eid on a day that includes both Friday and the Day of Arafah, but they would have had to adopt it as a new celebration had it been revealed to their Prophet. The central meaning and essence attempted to be conveyed here are reinforced and validated by narrations found in various Hadith collections.

Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (R.A.) is involved in a comparable occurrence. ‘Al-yawma akmaltu lakum deenakum wa atmamtu ‘alaykum ni’mati wa radeetu lakumu al-islama deena’, was one of the verses he recited. He was approached by a Jewish guy who said, ‘If this verse had been revealed to us, we would have celebrated this day as an Eid’.

Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (R.A.) responded to the man’s statement by saying, ‘Indeed, this verse was revealed on a day of two Eids—Friday and the Day of Arafah (Hajj)’.