يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِى ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُۥٓ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ يُجَـٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَآئِمٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ 54
Translations
O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allāh will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, strong against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allāh and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allāh; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu man yartadda minkum an dinihi fasawfa yati allahu biqawmin yuhibbuhum wa yuhibbunahu adhillatin ala almu'minin aAAizzatin ala alkafirin yujahidun fi sabilil allahi wa la yakhafun lawmata la'im. Dhalika fadlu allahi yu'tihi man yasha'. Wa allahu wasiun alim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns believers against apostasy and assures them that Allah will replace any who turn away from Islam with people of true faith—humble toward believers, mighty against disbelievers—who strive in His cause without fear of reproach. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse addresses both the theological gravity of ridda (apostasy) and the divine promise of preserving the ummah; Al-Qurtubi notes that the replacement community's characteristics (dhilla toward believers, izzah toward disbelievers) reflect the ideal Muslim character rooted in taqwa and genuine love for Allah.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah during a period when the Muslim community faced threats from hypocrites and those considering abandoning their faith. This ayah occurs within Surah Al-Ma'idah's broader discussion of covenant, loyalty, and the boundaries between believers and disbelievers, reinforcing the community's resilience against internal dissolution.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever changes his religion, kill him' (Sahih Bukhari 6922), which establishes the legal consequence while this ayah emphasizes the spiritual reality. Related to this, the hadith on the Companions of the Cave (Ashab al-Kahf) illustrates believers who maintain their faith despite pressure, reflecting the steadfastness praised in 5:54.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that genuine faith is not merely individual but communal and ongoing—Allah's promise to replace apostates with devoted believers reassures the faithful that truth prevails despite setbacks, calling modern Muslims to embody humility toward the faithful, strength against falsehood, and unwavering conviction regardless of social pressure.