Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 69

(Ayah 69) ➊ {اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا …… :} In the above verses, it was stated that the People of the Book have no status until they believe and do righteous deeds; in this, it is said that not only the People of the Book, but the same ruling applies to all Muslims and non-Muslims.
➋ In this verse, the word {’’ الصّٰبِـُٔوْنَ ‘‘} apparently should have been in the accusative case, but Sibawayh and Khalil have written that it is {’’ مَرْفُوْعٌ بِالْاِبْتِدَاءِ عَلٰی نِيَّةِ التَّأْخِيْرِ‘‘}, meaning this word {’’ الصّٰبِـُٔوْنَ ‘‘} is actually the subject (mubtada') with the intention of being after {’’ وَ لَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُوْنَ ‘‘}, and its predicate is {’’كَذٰلِكَ ‘‘}, meaning {’’ الصّٰبِـُٔوْنَ ‘‘} has the same ruling. The reason for mentioning it later is that, in fact, this is the most misguided group among all the sects. Therefore, they have been mentioned separately. The meaning of the verse is that whoever among these groups believes and does righteous deeds, Allah Almighty will accept their repentance, even if a Sabian believes, they can also receive this concession. (Kabir) For the explanation of {’’ الصّٰبِـِٕيْنَ ‘‘}, see the footnotes of Surah Al-Baqarah, verse (62). After the advent of the Prophet (peace be upon him), it is also necessary to believe in him, so in this verse, by {’’ اٰمَنَ بِاللّٰهِ ‘‘} is meant to be a Muslim, or it means that in their respective times, whoever among them believed and acted upon the heavenly religion, they are meant; but after the coming of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), no matter how much a person believes in Allah and the Last Day, if, despite being informed of the coming of the Prophet (peace be upon him), he does not recite the kalimah, then he is of the people of Hell. By {’’ اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا ‘‘} is meant either those people who only professed faith with their tongues and not with their hearts, i.e., the hypocrites; among them, whoever believes with the heart and does righteous deeds, or all Muslims are meant, that if they do righteous deeds along with faith, they will be saved from fear and grief. Merely reciting the kalimah is not enough; righteous deeds are also necessary. For more, see Surah Al-Baqarah (62).

69. 1 This is the same subject that has been mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 62; it should be referred to.

69. Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Sabians, and the Christians—whoever (truly) believes in Allah [116] and the Last Day and does righteous deeds—there shall be no fear upon them, nor shall they grieve.

[116]
A Brief Introduction to the Religions Prevalent in the Prophetic Era:

At the beginning of this verse, by ﴿اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا﴾, some scholars have meant the group of hypocrites. However, it can also refer to those Muslims who are not firm in their faith and actions. The second addressees are the Jews. There was a time when Allah Almighty had given them superiority over all the nations of the world and had blessed them with every kind of favor and blessing, which led them to develop the notion that since they are the children of the Prophets, they are Allah’s beloved and that they will never be subjected to the punishment of Hell. Furthermore, they developed the misconception that the Jews alone are the sole claimants to salvation in the Hereafter, and all others will become the fuel of Hell. The third addressees are the Sabians, who are generally considered irreligious people. However, they also had their own religion, which was that they did not consider the need for any prophet to reach Allah. They associated themselves with Sayyiduna Nuh. They worshipped stars, planets, and spirits, considering these spirits as the means or intermediaries to reach Allah, and they would offer sacrifices and vows for them. The fourth addressees are the Christians, who believed in the doctrine of the atonement of Christ and, in this regard, considered themselves the sole claimants to salvation in the Hereafter. The names of these four groups have been mentioned because, in that era, these were the four well-known groups in Arabia who, in one way or another, believed in the life of the Hereafter.

In this verse, Allah Almighty has warned that the basis of salvation in the Hereafter is neither in being affiliated with a particular sect, nor in lineage, nor in being the offspring of the Prophets, but rather its basis is to truly believe in Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, and the Book revealed to him, and to have true faith in the Day of Judgment and Retribution, and then to perform righteous deeds according to these beliefs. Whoever among all these groups does this, only he will attain salvation from the pains, sufferings, and punishment of the Hereafter. They will neither have any fear of any impending danger nor any grief regarding their past worldly life.