Translation
When they (the Christians mentioned in the previous verse) come to understand what has been revealed to the Messenger (Prophet Mohammad), they are overwhelmed (with emotion and) tears in their eyes as they fully comprehend the truth. They say: “Our Sustainer, we reaffirm our faith and include ourselves among those who bear witness (to the truth). What reasons do we have not to believe in God and the truth that has come to us while we truly aspire to be among the people of faith and truth?” So God rewards them with Paradise (of peace and plenty) wherein the river flows to reside as a fitting recognition for those who do good. But those who continue to deny God and reject the messages are destined for the evil of flaming fire. 317
Interpretation
317 This is a beautiful and universal recognition of the fact that whoever (in this case Christians), irrespective of his or her previous beliefs, comes to recognize the message of God as truth and commits to doing good will be counted as a person of faith and truth and will be amply rewarded. This is a good reminder for the Muslims that they have no monopoly on God’s favor, which is reserved for any human being who believes in God and is committed to do good. Another implication is to stay open minded and be cognizant of the fact that people who are open to truth and justice in any part of the world (especially Christians) will always be impressed by the elegance and truth contained in the Qur’an and its unequivocal confirmation of the truth in earlier revelations (the Torah and the Bible) and acceptance of all prophets (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and others) as God’s prophets propagating the same and consistent message of peace and prosperity for human beings.
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REFLECTION
Many Muslims today fail to recognize goodness in other people, while the Qur’an consistently praises people, no matter what their professed label might be, when they do good and establish faith in God. The Prophet Mohammad, during the days when the hostility between the emerging group of Muslims and their adversaries from the Arab tribes was at its peak, used to lament that he missed those days when he could work together with everyone to serve the common interests of the community. Islam, as all statistics show, is the fastest-growing religion in the world even today after commanding 1.6 billion followers, and most of the people coming to this universal faith are Christians, confirming the truth contained in these verses.
ACTION
Muslim should focus on perfecting our faith and conduct in our daily and collective lives and let our neighbors and community members see Islam as exemplified by thoughtful and humble people at a time when some deviant Muslims (such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Boko Haram, and so on, as well as autocratic Muslim leaders in some countries) are igniting a different image of Islam and Muslims in the world.