سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ

Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 81

The Table · Medinan · Juz 6 · Page 121

وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلنَّبِىِّ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَا ٱتَّخَذُوهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ ﴿81﴾
And had they believed in Allâh, and in the Prophet (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) and in what has been revealed to him, never would they have taken them (the disbelievers) as Auliyâ’ (protectors and helpers); but many of them are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).
وَلَوْ walaw And if
كَانُوا۟ kānū they had
يُؤْمِنُونَ yu'minūna believed
بِٱللَّهِ bil-lahi in Allah
وَٱلنَّبِىِّ wal-nabiyi and the Prophet
وَمَآ wamā and what
أُنزِلَ unzila has been revealed
إِلَيْهِ ilayhi to him
مَا not
ٱتَّخَذُوهُمْ ittakhadhūhum they (would have) taken them
أَوْلِيَآءَ awliyāa (as) allies
وَلَـٰكِنَّ walākinna [and] but
كَثِيرًۭا kathīran many
مِّنْهُمْ min'hum of them
فَـٰسِقُونَ fāsiqūna (are) defiantly disobedient

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 81) {وَ لَوْ كَانُوْا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاللّٰهِ ……:} That is, if they truly believed in Allah Almighty and their Prophet (Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them) and the Book revealed to them (the Torah and the Gospel), then they would never have established friendship with the disbelievers instead of the Muslims, because this act has been declared forbidden in the Torah, or it means that if the disbelievers had sincerely believed, and were not afflicted with hypocrisy, then they would never have formed friendships with them.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

81. 1. This means that a person who truly possesses faith will never befriend the disbelievers.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

81. If they had believed in Allah, the Prophet, and what was sent down to him, they would not have taken the disbelievers as friends [127], but most of them are defiantly disobedient.

[127] They should have befriended some from among the People of the Book, so that there would at least be some degree of harmony in beliefs, which could serve as a basis for their friendship. But they have become so blinded by enmity towards Islam that, in opposition to the Muslims, they choose the polytheists as friends, and even verbally tell the polytheists that, in terms of religion, you are better than the Muslims.