Peace and blessings be upon him.

Allah the Exalted says, “And lower your wing to the believers” (al-Ḥijr 15:88), and in another verse, “toward those believers who follow you” (ash-Shuʿarāʾ 26:215).

The words “Lower your wing” (ash-Shuʿarāʾ 26:215) mean: be humble. The arrogant, self-important person imagines himself to be like a bird gliding high in the sky, and so he is instructed to fold his wing and come down to the believers who have followed the Prophet ﷺ.

From this we understand that one does not lower his wing for a disbeliever; rather, in dealing with a disbeliever you take a higher stance, for you are holding fast to the Word of Allah—and the Word of Allah is supreme.

For that reason Allah, Mighty and Majestic, described the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions: “harsh against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves” (al-Fatḥ 48:29). That is, they are strong and firm toward the disbelievers, yet compassionate with one another.

The author then cites the next verse: “O you who believe! Whoever among you turns back from his religion, Allah will soon bring a people whom He loves and who love Him—humble toward the believers, mighty against the disbelievers, striving in the path of Allah…” (al-Māʾidah 5:54). In other words, whoever of you apostatizes becomes a disbeliever after having been a believer.

Such a thing can indeed occur: a person may enter Islam and live by it, then Satan—Allah’s refuge is sought—leads him astray until he apostatizes. Once he does so, he is no longer a friend or supporter of the believers. That is why Allah says, “Allah will bring a people whom He loves and who love Him,” meaning believers—“He loves them and they love Him.”

“…humble toward the believers, mighty against the disbelievers, striving…”—thus, they stand on the side of the believers.