Translation
Neither wealth nor ties of affiliations can compensate for the consequence of disbelief [ungratefulness to God]; the consequence being punishment in hellfire and earning God’s displeasure. What they earn and spend with their disbelief and lack of thankfulness in this life is like a wind with an intense cold wave that destroys harvests of those who are unjust to themselves and to others. God does not wrong them; they themselves are the source of wrong done to them.201
O People of Faith, do not take into intimate confidence those who do not share your faith and goodness to others; they spare no effort to undermine your success. They rejoice at your distress, and there is intense dislike for you in them as evidenced by what they say, and there is greater dislike in what is in their hearts. This way God makes you aware of your situation through His message; it is up to you to understand and pay attention. How is it that you love them, but they love you not, and you believe in what has been revealed in the book in its entirety [but they do not]? When they meet you, they say, “We are with you and believe as you do,” but when they are alone, they bite their finger in rage against you. Say to them, “You can destroy yourselves in your rage, but know that God knows the condition of every heart [yours as well as ours].”
They rejoice at your misfortune and grieve at your success. They cannot do you any harm, if you are patient in adversity and remain conscious of God. God, indeed, encompasses all their activities.202
Interpretation
201. The consequences of evil deeds and good deeds have far-reaching ramifications that go beyond the limits of this life. One can earn temporary and immediate reward and fame through evil, but eventually these are destroyed in this life, and there is continued punishment in the afterlife. To those who do good—sometimes those good deeds are not rewarded immediately on this earth as a form of trial to test our patience and reliance on God. Eventually these are rewarded in this life, and there is continued reward in the life after death, which is everlasting compared to the limited span of our current life on this planet.
202. Seeking alliance with people who will advance your just causes and avoiding confiding in people who will undermine your success is advice and a lesson that we can all relate to. When it comes to establishing justice, peace, and unity among people, it is paramount that we foster alliance with like-minded people (common faith in God and commitment to do good) and avoid bringing people into the fold, no matter how tempting it might be, who have no genuine interest in faith and in common goodness.
REFLECTION
Building alliances with like-minded people is essential to advance any cause—social, political, economic, and knowledge advancement. The message from the Qur’an is very clear, especially when it comes to advancement of faith and peace in our lives and societies. The success of such endeavor will depend on the strength of the commitment, the unity among the people who share such commitment, and the avoidance of those who can openly and secretly undermine the holistic goals and objectives.
ACTION
Let us all pay attention to such advice and be very diligent in our endeavors to advance our common faith in God and peace for everyone.