﴿22﴾ “You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they are their fathers, their sons, their brothers, or their kindred. Those are the ones in whose hearts He has inscribed faith and whom He has strengthened with a spirit from Him. He will admit them into Gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will abide forever. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. Those are the party of Allah. Surely, it is the party of Allah who are successful.”
The Exalted says: “You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger.” That is, these two things cannot coexist. A servant cannot truly believe in Allah and the Last Day unless he acts in accordance with what faith (1) requires and entails: loving and supporting those who uphold faith, and hating and opposing those who do not, even if they are the people closest to him.
This is true faith—the faith whose fruit and intended purpose have been realized. Those possessing this quality are the ones in whose hearts Allah has inscribed faith; that is, He has engraved it, made it firm, and planted it deeply, so that it does not waver and is not affected by misgivings or doubts.
They are the ones whom Allah has strengthened with a spirit from Him—that is, with His revelation, aid, divine support, and lordly grace.
They are the ones who enjoy a wholesome life in this world and Gardens of bliss in the everlasting abode, containing everything souls desire and choose and that delights the eyes. The greatest and finest bliss is also theirs: Allah bestows His pleasure upon them and will never be angry with them. They are pleased with their Lord because of the many honors, abundant rewards, generous gifts, and lofty ranks He grants them, such that they see no goal higher than what their Master has given them and no ultimate end beyond it (2).
As for someone who claims to believe in Allah and the Last Day while befriending Allah’s enemies and loving those who have cast faith (3) behind their backs, his faith is merely a claim with no reality. Every assertion requires evidence to substantiate it; a bare claim avails nothing, and the one who makes it is not believed.
This completes the commentary on “Allah Has Indeed Heard,” by Allah’s praise and with His aid and guidance.
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May Allah bless Muhammad and grant him abundant peace.
Commentary on Sūrat al-Hashr
[It is] Medinan