, O Messenger of Allah, (1) give my allegiance to Allah and His Messenger, and before Allah and His Messenger I renounce any pact (2) with these unbelievers and any allegiance to them.”

For this reason, when Banū Qaynuqā came to them—with Abd Allah ibn Ubayy ibn Salūl behind their concerted action—Allah revealed this verse, making clear in it the general obligation to ally oneself with the believers and the general prohibition against allying oneself with unbelievers. The statements of the Companions and Followers have already been cited to the effect that it is general and not specific to Ali (3).

The thirteenth response is that the context makes this clear to anyone who reflects upon the Quran, for He (4), Most High, says:

“O you who believe, do not take the Jews and Christians as allies. They are allies of one another. Whoever among you takes them as allies is indeed one of them. Surely Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”

[Surah al-Māidah: 51]

This is a prohibition against allying oneself with the Jews and Christians.

He then says:

“You see those in whose hearts is sickness rushing toward them, saying, ‘We fear that a turn of fortune may strike us.’ Yet perhaps Allah will bring victory or a decision from Himself”

up to His words:

“and thus they became losers.”

[Surah al-Māidah: 52–53]

This describes those in whose hearts is sickness, who ally themselves with the unbelievers, such as the hypocrites.

He then says:

“O you who believe, whoever among you turns back from his religion, Allah will bring forth a people whom He loves and who love Him, humble toward the believers and mighty against the unbelievers. They strive in the cause of Allah and fear no critic’s blame. That is Allah’s bounty, which He grants to whomever He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.