Surah 5:55
Show Full Scripture Context (5:54-56) — 3 Verses
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَن يَرۡتَدَّ مِنكُمۡ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَسَوۡفَ يَأۡتِي ٱللَّهُ بِقَوۡمٖ يُحِبُّهُمۡ وَيُحِبُّونَهُۥٓ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ يُجَٰهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوۡمَةَ لَآئِمٖۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤۡتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
You who believe! Whoever of you turns back from his religion, God will bring (another) people whom He loves, and who love Him, (who are) humble toward the believers, mighty toward the disbelievers, (who) struggle in the way of God, and do not fear the blame of anyone. That is the favor of God. He gives it to whomever He pleases. God is embracing, knowing.
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُمۡ رَٰكِعُونَ
Your only ally is God, and His messenger, and the believers who observe the prayer and give the alms, and who bow.
وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ فَإِنَّ حِزۡبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلۡغَٰلِبُونَ
Whoever takes God as an ally, and His messenger, and those who believe – surely the faction of God, they are the victors.
"55. Verily, your Protector is Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, those who perform the Salah, and give Zakah, and they bow down."
"56. And whosoever takes Allah, His Messenger, and those who have believed, as protectors, then the party of Allah will be the victorious."
Threatening to Replace the Believers With Another People if They Revert from Islam
Allah emphasizes His mighty ability and states that whoever reverts from supporting His religion and establishing His Law, then Allah will replace them with whomever is better, mightier and more righteous in Allah's religion and Law. Allah said in other Ayat, {And if you turn away, He will exchange you for some other people and they will not be your likes.} and, {Do you not see that Allah has created the heavens and the earth with truth? If He will, He can remove you and bring (in your place) a new creation! And for Allah that is not hard or difficult.} 14:19-20. Verily this is not difficult or hard on Allah. Allah said here, {O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion...} and turns back from the truth to falsehood, from now until the commencement of the Last Hour. Allah said next. {humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers.} These are the qualities of perfect believers, as they are humble with their believing brothers and allies, stern with their enemies and adversaries. In another Ayah, Allah said. {Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. And those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves.} The Prophet is described as the smiling fighter, smiling to his allies and fighting his enemies. Allah's statement, {Fighting in the way of Allah, and never fearing the blame of the blamers.} Nothing prevents them from obeying Allah, establishing His Law, fighting His enemies, enjoining righteousness and forbidding evil. Certainly, nothing prevents them from taking this path, neither someone who seeks to hinder them, nor one who blames or chastises them.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Dharr said, "My Khalil (intimate friend, the Messenger) has commanded me to do seven deeds. He commanded me to love the poor and to be close to them. He commanded me to look at those who are less than me and not those who are above me. He commanded me to keep the relations of the womb, even if they cut it. He commanded me not to ask anyone for anything, to say the truth even if it was bitter, and to not fear the blame of anyone for the sake of Allah. He commanded me to often repeat, 'La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no strength or power except from Allah)', for these words are from a treasure under the Throne (of Allah)." [1] It is confirmed in the Sahih; 'The believer is not required to humiliate himself.' He was asked; "How does one humiliate himself, O Messenger of Allah?" So he replied; 'He takes on tests that he cannot bear.' [2]
Therefore, those who accept the allegiance of Allah - His Messenger and the faithful believers - will gain success in this life and the Hereafter. Hence Allah's statement here, {And whosoever takes Allah, His Messenger, and those who have believed, as protectors, then the party of Allah will be the victorious.}
[1] Ahmad 5:405, Tuhfat Al-Ahwadhi 6:531, and Ibn Majah 2:1332.
[2] Ahmad 5:159.
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 3, Pages 206-211)