O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islaam), Allaah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the way of Allaah, and never fearing the blame of the blamers. That is the grace of Allaah which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allaah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower. Verily, your Protector is Allaah, His Messenger, and the believers, those who perform the Salaah, and give Zakaah, and they bow down. And whosoever takes Allaah, His Messenger, and those who have believed, as protectors, then the party of Allaah will be the victorious.
[Soorah al-Maa’idah 5:54-56]
Threatening to Replace the Believers With Another People If They Revert from Islaam
Allaah emphasizes His mighty ability and states that whoever reverts from supporting His religion and establishing His Law, then Allaah will replace them with whomever is better, mightier and more righteous in Allaah’s religion and Law.
Allaah 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 Allaah 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 Allaah that is not hard or difficult.)﴿14:19-20﴾. Verily this is not difficult or hard on Allaah.
Allaah 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. Allaah 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, Allaah said,
(Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. 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.
Allaah’s statement,
(Fighting in the way of Allaah, and never fearing the blame of the blamers.) Nothing prevents them from obeying Allaah, 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.
Imaam Ahmad recorded that Aboo 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 Allaah. He commanded me to often repeat, ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah’ (There is no strength or power except from Allaah), for these words are from a treasure under the Throne (of Allaah).”
It is confirmed in the Saheeh:
“The believer is not required to humiliate himself.”
He was asked, “How does one humiliate himself, O Messenger of Allaah.”
So he replied,
“He takes on tests that he cannot bear.”
(That is the grace of Allaah which He bestows on whom He wills.) meaning, those who have these qualities, acquired it by Allaah’s bounty and favor and because He granted them these qualities. (And Allaah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower,) His favor is ever extending, and He has perfect knowledge of those who deserve or do not deserve His favor and bounty.
Allaah’s statement,
(Verily, your Protector is Allaah, His Messenger, and the believers…) means, the Jews are not your friends. Rather, your allegiance is to Allaah, His Messenger and the faithful believers. (those who perform the Salaah, and give the Zakaah…) referring to the believers who have these qualities and establish the prayer, which is one of the most important pillars of Islaam, for it includes worshipping Allaah alone without partners. They pay Zakaah, which is the right of the creation and a type of help extended to the needy and the poor.
As for Allaah’s statement,
(and they bow down,) some people thought that they give the Zakaah while bowing down. If this were the case, then paying the Zakaah while bowing would be the best form of giving Zakaah. No scholar from whom religious rulings are taken says this, as much as we know. Therefore, (and they bow down,) means, they attend the prayer in congregation in Allaah’s Masjids and spend by way of charity on the various needs of Muslims.
Allaah said,
(And whosoever takes Allaah, His Messenger, and those who have believed, as protectors, then the party of Allaah will be the victorious.)
Similarly Allaah said,
(Allaah has decreed: “Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious.” Verily, Allaah is All-Powerful, Almighty. You will not find any people who believe in Allaah and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger, even though they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred (people). For such He has written faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with a Ruh (proof) from Himself. And He will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow to dwell therein (forever). Allaah is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the party of Allaah. Verily, it is the party of Allaah that will be the successful.) Therefore, those who accept the allegiance of Allaah – His Messenger and the faithful believers – will gain success in this life and the Hereafter. Hence Allaah’s statement here, (And whosoever takes Allaah, His Messenger, and those who have believed, as protectors, then the party of Allaah will be the victorious.)
Stick With The Haq 