Surah al-Ma'idah (The Table) 5 : 80

Overview (Verses 80- 81)

An Essential Requirement of Faith
 
The real reason for this attitude of the Jews, despite their having received revelations from God, is that they do not really believe in God and His Messenger. They have not embraced God’s final message. Hence, they are unbelievers. Had they believed, they would not have allied themselves to unbelievers: “Now you can see many of them allying themselves with unbelievers. So evil is that which their souls make them do. They have incurred God’s wrath and in suffering they shall abide. Had they truly believed in God and the Prophet and all that which was revealed to them, they would not have taken them for allies, but many of them are evildoers.” (Verses 80-1)
 
This statement which describes the position of the Jews at the time of God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) also applies today, tomorrow and at all times. It is also true of all the peoples of earlier revelations in most parts of the world today. Hence, it is our duty to carefully study the Qur’ān and learn the lessons it has for every Muslim community throughout all generations.
 
It was the Jews who allied themselves to the unbelievers and incited them to attack the Muslims. God says of them in the Qur’ān: “They say to the unbelievers that they are better guided than the believers.” (4: 51) This was most clearly apparent in the Battle of the Moat, but it was also clear both before and after it, up to our present time. Israel could not have come into existence in Palestine except through the Jews allying themselves to present-day unbelievers and atheists.
 
As for the other people of earlier revelations, they ally themselves with materialist atheism whenever they have to deal with Muslims. They even cooperate with people of pagan and idolatrous religions when they have to fight Muslims, even though those Muslims do not represent Islam in any way, except through being descendants of past Muslim generations. All this goes to show how deeply rooted is the grudge against this faith and those who belong to it, though their claims of belonging to it may be false. God indeed tells the truth. He says: “Now you can see many of them allying themselves with unbelievers. So evil is that which their souls make them do. They have incurred God’s wrath and in suffering they shall abide.” (Verse 80) This is the net result of what they have done for themselves. Evil indeed is such an outcome. Bitter indeed are the fruits they reap from allying themselves with unbelievers.
 
Who of us reads or listens to God’s description of those people and still takes decisions that cannot be sanctioned by God, concerning alliances and mutual support between the followers of this religion and its enemies who are allied with unbelievers? What motive could there be for those people to seek an alliance with unbelievers, unless it is lack of faith in God and His Messenger: “Had they truly believed in God and the Prophet and all that which was revealed to them, they would not have taken them for allies, but many of them are evildoers.” (Verse 81) This is indeed the reason: they do not believe in God and the Prophet, and the majority of them are evildoers. They share the same feelings and directions with unbelievers. Hence, they prefer to be allied with them rather than with those who believe in God and His Messenger.
 
This Qur’ānic comment highlights three important facts. Firstly, that all the people of the Scriptures, with the exception of a few who believe in Muĥammad, God’s Messenger (peace be upon him), do not believe in God because they do not believe in His last Messenger. The Qur’ān does not describe them as people who do not believe in the Prophet only, but describes them as non-believers in God as well: “Had they truly believed in God and the Prophet and all that which was revealed to them, they would not have taken them for allies, but many of them are evildoers.” (Verse 81) This is a clear statement from God which does not admit any ambiguity or differing interpretation. No matter how strongly they claim that they believe in God, they are unbelievers, particularly when we take into consideration their deviant concepts of God as these have been outlined in this and other sūrahs.
 
Secondly, all the people of earlier revelations are required to embrace the Divine faith, as they have been called upon to do so by the Prophet Muĥammad (peace be upon him). If they respond, then they are believers and they follow a Divine faith. If they reject this call, God’s description of them remains true.
 
Thirdly, there can be no bond of alliance or mutual support between them and Muslims in any matter, because all matters are, according to Islam subject to faith.
 
It is important, however, to point out that Islam instruct its followers to be kind to the people of earlier revelations and to extend to them benevolent treatment and to protect their lives, honour, and property when they are in the land of Islam. Muslims are also required to let them follow their religions, whatever they are, but to call on them gently to follow Islam and to argue with them over this in a reasonable manner. It is also the duty of Muslims to fulfil their covenants with them as long as they remain true to such covenants. They may not at any time be subjected to any form of compulsion in matters of faith.
 
Such is Islam: clear, straightforward, kind, tolerant.
 
God always tells the truth and He guides to the path that is straightest.