The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 318
CH. 5 AL-MĀ'IDAH PT. 6 يَا يُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوْمِينَ لِلَّهِ O ye who believe! be. 9 steadfast in the cause of Allah, شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَانُ bearing witness in equity; and قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا اِعْدِلُوا هُوَ let not a people's enmity incite b you to act otherwise than with اَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ إِنَّ اللهَ justice. Be always just, that is خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely, Allah is aware of what you do. 648 * وَعَدَ اللهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوْا وَعَمِلُوا الصّلِحَتِ Allah has promised those. 10 لَهُمْ مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ who believe and do good deeds that they shall have forgiveness and a great reward. وَالَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِايْتِنَا And as for those who. 11 أُولَيْكَ أَصْحَبُ الْجَحِيمِ disbelieve and reject Our Signs, they are the people of Hell. a4:136. 5:3; 11:90. 22:57; 24:56; 48:30. d5:87; 6:50; 7:37, 41; 22:58. accept Islam should accept it from the depths of his heart and willingly act up to its teachings. The words thus incidentally provide a strong refutation of the charge so wrongfully brought against Islam that it sanctions conversion at the point of the sword. The sword can only govern the tongue but not the heart. 648. Commentary: As the word (for which see 4:35), mean one who performs his work thoroughly and ceaselessly, the expression, be steadfast in the cause of Allah, would mean that Muslims should take a firm hold of the commandments of God and carry them out completely and thoroughly and should never become lax or negligent. 758 The words, bearing witness in equity, mean that the Faithful should bear practical witness to the truth of Islam by becoming good Muslims and leading good lives in order to become examples for others. They also signify that the Muslims should convey the Message of Islam to others and thus become witnesses for them. As, however, propagation of Islam implies contact with other peoples, the verse fittingly ends with the commandment, let not a people's enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness. Surely no other religion gives such fair and just teachings about its enemies as does Islam. A true Muslim should act justly not only to other Muslims but