5. Surah Al-Ma'idah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
... يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ ...
5: 54. O ye who believe!
... مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ...
if any from among you turn back from his faith, soon will Allah produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him,
... أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ...
lowly with the believers, mighty against the rejecters,
... يُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَلاَ يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لآئِمٍ...
fighting in the way of Allah, and never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault.
C767. As "most men are rebellious" (5:49), it is inevitable that there should be apostates even from such a religion of reason and common-sense as Islam. But here is a warning to the Muslim body that they should not repeat the history of the Jews, and become so self-satisfied or arrogant as to depart from the spirit of Allah's teaching. If they do, the loss will be their own.
Allah's bounty is not confined to one group or section of humanity. He can always raise up people who will follow the true spirit of Islam. That spirit is defined in two ways:
- first in general terms; they will love Allah and Allah will love them; and
- secondly, by specific signs;
amongst the Brethren, their attitude will be that of humility, but to wrong-doers they will offer no mealy-mouthed compromises;
they will always strive and fight for truth and right;
they will know no fear, either physical, or that more insidious form, which says; "What will people say if we act thus?
They are too great in mind to be haunted by any such thought. For, as the next verse says, their friends are Allah, His Prophet, and His people, the people who judge rightly, without fear or favour.
... ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاء وَاللّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٥٤﴾
That is the Grace of Allah, which He will bestow on whom He pleaseth:
and Allah encompasseth all, and He knoweth all things.
5: 54
Asad O you who have attained to faith! If you ever abandon your faith, God will in time bring forth [in your stead] people whom He loves and who love Him – humble towards the believers, proud towards all who deny the truth: [people] who strive hard in God’s cause, and do nto fear to be censured by anyone who might censure them: such is God’s favor, which He grants unto whom He wills. And God is infinite, all-knowing.
Pickthall O ye who believe! Whoso of you becometh a renegade from his religion, (know that in his stead) Allah will bring a people whom He loveth and who love Him, humble toward believers, stern toward disbelievers, striving in the way of Allah and fearing not the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of Allah which He giveth unto whom He will. Allah is All Embracing, All Knowing.
Transliteration Ya_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ may yartadda minkum 'an dinihi fa saufa ya'tilla_hu bi qaumiy yuhibbuhum wa yuhibbu_nah(u_), azillatin'alal mu'minina a'izzatin'alal ka_firin(a), yuja_hidu_na fi sabililla_hi wa la_ yakha_fu_na laumata la_'im(in), za_lika fadlulla_hi yu'tihi may yasya_'(u), walla_huwa_si'un 'alim(un).
[[ Ali’s note - 767 As "most men are rebellious" (v. 49), it is inevitable that there should be apostates even from such a religion of reason and common-sense as Islam. But here is a warning to the Muslim body that they should not repeat the history of the Jews, and become so self-satisfied or arrogant as to depart from the spirit of Allah's teaching. If they do, the loss will be their own. Allah's bounty is not confined to one group or section of humanity. He can always raise up people who will follow the true spirit of Islam. That spirit is defined in two ways: first in general terms; they will love Allah and Allah will love them; and secondly, by specific signs; amongst the Brethren, their attitude will be that of humility, but to wrong-doers they will offer no mealy-mouthed compromises; they will always strive and fight for truth and right; they will know no fear, either physical, or that more insidious form, which says; "What will people say if we act thus? They are too great in mind to be haunted by any such thought. For, as the next verse says, their friends are Allah, His Prophet, and His people, the people who judge rightly, without fear or favour. (5.54) ]]