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.

Asad’s Version:

5: 54 O you who have attained to faith! If you ever abandon your faith, God will in time bring forth people whom He loves and who love Him- humble towards the believers, proud towards all who deny the truth: who strive hard in God’s cause, and do not 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. Asad

see note 76

5:54..........Lowly with the believers, mighty against the Rejecters, fighting in the way of Allah, and never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault. That is the Grace of Allalh, which He will bestow on who He pleases.....Ali, see note 767