Surat Al-Maeda was the last Surat in the sequence of revelation, it was revealed post the conquest of Mecca and parts of it was revealed during the Prophet’s farewell pilgrimage and part was revealed shortly before his death.  The Surat includes the affirmation by Allah that He has completed the religion of Islam by saying:

ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمَ دِينً۬ا‌ۚ

This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favor upon you and have chosen Islam as your religion.  (Al-Maeda 5:3)

The theme of this Surat is revealed in the first Ayat:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَوۡفُواْ بِٱلۡعُقُودِ‌ۚ

“O you who believe fulfill your pledges.”   (Al-Maeda 5:1)

 So, the theme of the Surat is about fulfilling our pledge, as believers.  This pledge includes the commitment to obey Allah’s commands and honor the terms of all agreements and contracts that we enter.  You may consider that this Surat is giving the finishing touches to the Shariah and thus it also gives attention to the relationship with the people of book whom Muslims will often be engaging with.  Since the theme of the Surat is fulfilling pledges and covenants, it includes discussion on Bani Israel as example for the nation that Muslims must not follow because of their continued violation to their covenant with Allah.

The Surat starts with Allah calling upon those who declared their belief by saying: “O you who believed” (يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ).   There are 68 calls by Allah to those who believed in 8 Surat in the Quran.  These are Surat Al-Baqara, Al-E-Imran, Al-Nisa, Al-Maeda, Al-Anfal, Al-Tawba, Al-Nour and Al-Ahzab.  Surat Al-Madea includes the largest number of these calls, it includes 16 calls by Allah to those who believed.  Sayeda Aisha (عائشة) said regarding this Surat:

عن جبير بن نفير قال : حججت فدخلت على عائشة رضي الله عنها ، فقالت لي : يا جبير تقرأ المائدة ؟ فقلت : نعم قالت : ” أما إنها آخر سورة نزلت فما وجدتم فيها من حلال ، فاستحلوه ، وما وجدتم من حرام فحرموه . ” رواه الحاكم وقال حديث صحيح على شرط الشّيخين

“It is the last Surat that was revealed.  So, whatever you find in it as halal, allow it, and whatever you find in it prohibited abandon it.”

In addition to the 16 calls by Allah to the believers, the Surat includes two calls from Allah to the Messenger (PBUH) and two call to the people of the book and three calls by the Prophet (PBUH) to the people of the book.

The 16 calls to the believers addressed the following commands:

1. Fulfilling the contracts.
2. Respecting the sanctity of the designated marking of Allah during the Hajj. And following this command comes the dietary prohibitions.
3. Observing the physical purification requirement for performing the prayers.
4. Standing up for Justice.
5. Acknowledging Allah’s favors by protecting you.
6. Committing to seek the means to be near to Allah by sacrificing for His cause.
7. Prohibiting certain allegiances.
8. Not reneging from the religion to avoid being replaced by others who are more committed.
9. Boycotting those who mock the religion.
10. Avoiding the prohibition or restricting the enjoyment of the blessing of Allah.
11. Ensuring the prohibition of intoxicant and gambling.
12. Being aware of Allah’s tests during Hajj.
13. Respecting Allah’s restriction of killing animals during the Hajj.
14. Avoiding the excessive questioning on Halal and Haram.
15. Focusing on oneself and not being distracted by those who do not want to believe.
16. Ensuring the proper authentication, the will of a deceased person.

Two calls by Allah to the Messenger (يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ) commanded him with:

1. Refraining from being sad and concerned about those who reject Allah’s message.
2. Delivering Allah’s message and not fearing of any harm because he is being protected by Allah.

The two calls by Allah to the people of the book focusing on commanding them to follow the messenger (PBUH)

The three calls by the Prophet (PBUH) to the people of the book demanding them:

1. Not to take revenge against the believers.
2. Follow the Torah and the Injil.
3. Stop all the excesses they invented in their religion.

The Surat starts with Allah’s commands to honor the pledges and to maintain discipline during the key ritual of the Hajj by not hunting animals and by respecting the sanctity of Allah’s signs and Allah ties to these commands the noble human values of justice and cooperation.  Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَوۡفُواْ بِٱلۡعُقُودِ‌ۚ أُحِلَّتۡ لَكُم بَہِيمَةُ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ إِلَّا مَا يُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡكُمۡ غَيۡرَ مُحِلِّى ٱلصَّيۡدِ وَأَنتُمۡ حُرُمٌ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحۡكُمُ مَا يُرِيدُ (١)

O you who believed: Fulfill your pledges. The grazing animals have been made lawful for you, except what shall be announced to you (herein): unlawful is the game while you are in the Ihram (during pilgrimage). Indeed, Allah decrees whatever He so wills. (Al-Maeda 5:1)

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُحِلُّواْ شَعَـٰٓٮِٕرَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا ٱلشَّہۡرَ ٱلۡحَرَامَ وَلَا ٱلۡهَدۡىَ وَلَا ٱلۡقَلَـٰٓٮِٕدَ وَلَآ ءَآمِّينَ ٱلۡبَيۡتَ ٱلۡحَرَامَ يَبۡتَغُونَ فَضۡلاً۬ مِّن رَّبِّہِمۡ وَرِضۡوَٲنً۬ا‌ۚ وَإِذَا حَلَلۡتُمۡ فَٱصۡطَادُواْ‌ۚ وَلَا يَجۡرِمَنَّكُمۡ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوۡمٍ أَن صَدُّوڪُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ أَن تَعۡتَدُواْ‌ۘ وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ‌ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡعُدۡوَٲنِ‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ (٢)

O you who believed, do not violate the prescribed rituals instituted by Allah (during Hajj) neither in relationship to the sacred month nor in relation to the animal you bring along nor in relationship to the sacrificial animals nor in relation those heading to the Sacred House seeking the grace and pleasure of their Lord. But when you are out of Ihram, then you may resume hunting.  Do not let your hatred of people who (once) barred you from the scared mosque to make you transgress against them, help one another in righteousness and piety and do not help each other in sin and aggression. Remain conscious of Allah and know that Allah is, indeed, severe in punishment. (5:2)

Following the prohibitions during Hajj, Allah listed general dietary prohibitions by saying.

حُرِّمَتۡ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡمَيۡتَةُ وَٱلدَّمُ وَلَحۡمُ ٱلۡخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيۡرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ وَٱلۡمُنۡخَنِقَةُ وَٱلۡمَوۡقُوذَةُ وَٱلۡمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَٱلنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَآ أَكَلَ ٱلسَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيۡتُمۡ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى ٱلنُّصُبِ وَأَن تَسۡتَقۡسِمُواْ بِٱلۡأَزۡلَـٰمِ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ فِسۡقٌ‌ۗ

Prohibited for you (for food) are: the dead animals, the blood, the flesh of swine,  those upon whom other than Allah was invoked (during the slaughter), and the animal killed by strangulation, or through beating, or by a fall or goring, or that which is eaten by a beast unless you are able to slaughter before they die, and that which has been slaughtered before the idols, and that you determine through casting divining arrows. All this is sheer ungodliness.  (5:3)

 The verse concluded with declaring the completeness of the religion of Islam and giving an exception to violating prohibitions.  Allah said:

ٱلۡيَوۡمَ يَٮِٕسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن دِينِكُمۡ فَلَا تَخۡشَوۡهُمۡ وَٱخۡشَوۡنِ‌ۚ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمَ دِينً۬ا‌ۚ فَمَنِ ٱضۡطُرَّ فِى مَخۡمَصَةٍ غَيۡرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ۬ لِّإِثۡمٍ۬‌ۙ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ (٣)

This day those who disbelieve have given up all hopes of (ever harming) your religion; so do not fear them but fear Me.  Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favor upon you and have chosen Islam as your religion.  But whoever is completed by extreme hunger without any inclination towards sin, Allah is all-Forgiving, all-Merciful. (5:3)

Continuing with dietary rules, Allah addresses a question that was asked to the prophet (PBUH) regarding the animals that hunting dogs catches.

يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَآ أُحِلَّ لَهُمۡ‌ۖ قُلۡ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتُ‌ۙ وَمَا عَلَّمۡتُم مِّنَ ٱلۡجَوَارِحِ مُكَلِّبِينَ تُعَلِّمُونَہُنَّ مِمَّا عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ‌ۖ فَكُلُواْ مِمَّآ أَمۡسَكۡنَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱسۡمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۖ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡحِسَابِ (٤)

They ask you about what is lawful for them (as food). Say: “Lawful to you are all kind of good things and what the birds and beasts that are hunted by the hounds that you have trained by teaching them out of what Allah has taught you. Eat of what they catch for you and recited the Name of Allah over it and be fully conscious of Allah. Surely, Allah is swift in reckoning.” (5:4)

Then Allah addressed the relationship between the Muslims and the people of the book (mainly Christians and Jews) regarding eating their food and marrying their women.  Allah decreed the permissibility of eating their food and marrying their chaste and pure women.  Allah says:

ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتُ‌ۖ وَطَعَامُ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ حِلٌّ۬ لَّكُمۡ وَطَعَامُكُمۡ حِلٌّ۬ لَّهُمۡ‌ۖ وَٱلۡمُحۡصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ وَٱلۡمُحۡصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ إِذَآ ءَاتَيۡتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحۡصِنِينَ غَيۡرَ مُسَـٰفِحِينَ وَلَا مُتَّخِذِىٓ أَخۡدَانٍ۬‌ۗ وَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱلۡإِيمَـٰنِ فَقَدۡ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ ۥ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرِينَ (٥)

This day good things have been made lawful for you and the food of the people of the book is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And (it is lawful for you to marry) the chaste women of the believers and also the chaste women of those who received the book before you when you give them their dowers binding yourself in marriage, neither going for lust nor having them as secret lovers. Whoever rejects the faith, his good work will go to waste and in the Hereafter, he will be among the losers. (5:5)

The Surat continues with Allah’s call to those who believed to purify themselves before standing for prayers by washing when water is available or by “tayamum” when it is not.

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا قُمۡتُمۡ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغۡسِلُواْ وُجُوهَكُمۡ وَأَيۡدِيَكُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡمَرَافِقِ وَٱمۡسَحُواْ بِرُءُوسِكُمۡ وَأَرۡجُلَڪُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡكَعۡبَيۡنِ‌ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمۡ جُنُبً۬ا فَٱطَّهَّرُواْ‌ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرۡضَىٰٓ أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوۡ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ۬ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡغَآٮِٕطِ أَوۡ لَـٰمَسۡتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمۡ تَجِدُواْ مَآءً۬ فَتَيَمَّمُواْ صَعِيدً۬ا طَيِّبً۬ا فَٱمۡسَحُواْ بِوُجُوهِڪُمۡ وَأَيۡدِيكُم مِّنۡهُ‌ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجۡعَلَ عَلَيۡڪُم مِّنۡ حَرَجٍ۬ وَلَـٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمۡ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعۡمَتَهُ ۥ عَلَيۡكُمۡ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ (٦)

O you who believe! When you rise for the prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. And if you are in a state of major impurity, purify yourselves (by taking bath). And if you are sick or on a journey or one of you comes from the area of relieving himself, or you have had sexual contact with women, and you do not find water, then take for yourself clean dust and rub your faces and your hands with it. Allah does not wish to impose a difficulty on you, but He wants to purify you and to complete His favors upon you, So that you may be grateful. (5:6)

So far, the commands of Allah are indented to purify our body with pure food, purify our life with pure wives and purify our soul with the prayers. The following divine call to those who believed is to establish absolute justice.  Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُہَدَآءَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۖ وَلَا يَجۡرِمَنَّڪُمۡ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوۡمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعۡدِلُواْ‌ۚ ٱعۡدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقۡرَبُ لِلتَّقۡوَىٰ‌ۖ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ (٨)

“O you who believed be steadfast for Allah as witnesses for justice, and do not let the hatred of some people induce you to deviate from justice. Be just, this is nearer to Taqwa (Piety): and Have Taqwa of Allah; for Allah is well-aware of all that you do.” (Al- Maeda 5:8)

The Surat moves to focus on Bani Israel and their failure to fulfill their pledges and honor their covenants.  This is presented in Ayat 12 to 26 that starts with their covenant.  Allah says:

وَلَقَدۡ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ وَبَعَثۡنَا مِنۡهُمُ ٱثۡنَىۡ عَشَرَ نَقِيبً۬ا‌ۖ وَقَالَ ٱللَّهُ إِنِّى مَعَڪُمۡ‌ۖ لَٮِٕنۡ أَقَمۡتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَيۡتُمُ ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ وَءَامَنتُم بِرُسُلِى وَعَزَّرۡتُمُوهُمۡ وَأَقۡرَضۡتُمُ ٱللَّهَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنً۬ا لَّأُڪَفِّرَنَّ عَنكُمۡ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمۡ وَلَأُدۡخِلَنَّڪُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ‌ۚ فَمَن ڪَفَرَ بَعۡدَ ذَٲلِكَ مِنڪُمۡ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ (١٢)

Allah made a covenant with the Children of Israel and We raised among them twelve Chiefs, and Allah said: Indeed, I am with you if you establish the prayer and give charity, and believe in My messengers and support them, and lend unto Allah a goodly loan, I shall most surely absolve you of your misdeeds, and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow. But whoever among you disbelieves after this will truly go astray from the plain way. (5:12)

But they betrayed their covenant and thus deserved Allah’s curse:

 فَبِمَا نَقۡضِہِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمۡ لَعَنَّـٰهُمۡ وَجَعَلۡنَا قُلُوبَهُمۡ قَـٰسِيَةً۬‌ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلۡڪَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ‌ۙ وَنَسُواْ حَظًّ۬ا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِۦ‌ۚ وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ خَآٮِٕنَةٍ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ‌ۖ فَٱعۡفُ عَنۡہُمۡ وَٱصۡفَحۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ (١٣)

And because of breaking their covenant, We have cursed them and made their hearts hard. They altered the revealed words from their contexts and forgot large part of the message that was sent to them.  You will not cease to find treachery from all except a few. But forgive them and overlook, for Allah loves those who are good in deeds. (5:13)

Then the Ayat narrated the story of Bani Israel and their refusal to obey Prophet Moses to enter the holy land that Allah promised them.  As a result of their refusal, Allah punished them by making the holy land forbidden for them for forty years.   Following this account, Allah revealed the story of the first murder in humanity and this is the killing of one of the children of Adam to his brother.  Allah ended this story by declaring to Bani Israel His decree regarding the sacredness of human life by saying:

مِنۡ أَجۡلِ ذَٲلِكَ ڪَتَبۡنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ أَنَّهُ ۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفۡسَۢا بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسٍ أَوۡ فَسَادٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَڪَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعً۬ا وَمَنۡ أَحۡيَاهَا فَڪَأَنَّمَآ أَحۡيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعً۬ا‌ۚ  —(٣٢)

“Because of that We decreed for the children of Israel that whoever kills a person not in retaliation of murder, nor (as punishment) spreading mischief on the earth – it would be as if he killed all mankind, and whoever saves a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind. (5:32)

(Note: a talk on the story of the children of Adam can be found on 2019 YouTube video entitled: “The Mystery Resolved – Who is the Killer?”  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VSeYeXPOuY )

After this account that focused on Bani Israel, Allah calls upon those who believed by reminding them of the key to their success by saying:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱبۡتَغُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِ ٱلۡوَسِيلَةَ وَجَـٰهِدُواْ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ (٣٥)

O you who believed, have Taqwa of Allah, and seek the way of nearness to Him, and strive in His way in order that you may succeed. (5:35)

The Surat moves to present Allah’s call to the prophet (PBUH) not be disturbed by the attitude of the people of the book towards him and gives the prophet an advice to demonstrate to them their hypocrisy by demanding them to follow their own revelations in the series of Ayat from 41 to 50 that start with:

۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ لَا يَحۡزُنكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلۡكُفۡرِ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِأَفۡوَٲهِهِمۡ وَلَمۡ تُؤۡمِن قُلُوبُهُمۡ‌ۛ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ‌ۛ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِلۡڪَذِبِ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لِقَوۡمٍ ءَاخَرِينَ لَمۡ يَأۡتُوكَ‌ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلۡكَلِمَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَوَاضِعِهِۦ‌ۖ — (٤١(

“O Messenger do not feel grief from those who race towards disbelief among those who say: “We believe” with their lips but their hearts do not believe; or from those who are among the Jews who listen to lies and listeners to others who have never come to you. They change the words from their proper places —. (5:41)

 And end with:

أَفَحُكۡمَ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ يَبۡغُونَ‌ۚ وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حُكۡمً۬ا لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُوقِنُونَ (٥٠)

“Is it the judgement of the days of ignorance that they seek? Who is better in judgement than Allah for a people who have firm belief. (5:41)

Following the discussion on those who rejected the Prophet (PBUH), followed lies and created confusion from among the people of the book, Allah calls upon the believers not to take them as guardians:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ ٱلۡيَہُودَ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰٓ أَوۡلِيَآءَ‌ۘ بَعۡضُہُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءُ بَعۡضٍ۬‌ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمۡ فَإِنَّهُ ۥ مِنۡہُمۡ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (٥١)

O you who believes, do not take the Jews and the Christians as guardians. They are guardians of one to another. And whoever among you who take them as guardians, then he becomes one of them. Allah does not guide those who are unjust. (5: 51)

 A problem sometime arises when the word “Awlia” (أَوۡلِيَآءَ‌ۘ) is translated as friends which is obviously wrong because Allah will not command the believers not to take the Jews and Christians as friends when He has already early in the Surat (Ayat 5) allowed them to marry their women and this relationship requires friendship and love. The command prohibits the allegiances in which the Muslims are inferior that leads to a Muslim losing his identity.   Allah expands on this command by identifying the character of those whom Allah prohibits Muslims from having alliance with them by saying:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ دِينَكُمۡ هُزُوً۬ا وَلَعِبً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ وَٱلۡكُفَّارَ أَوۡلِيَآءَ‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ (٥٧)

O you who believed, do not take as guardians those who take your religion as a mockery and fun from among those who received the Book  before you (mainly Jews and Christians), nor from among the disbelievers; and fear Allah if you i are true believers. (6:57)

Then Allah identifies for the believers who are their true guardians by saying:

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ ۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُمۡ رَٲكِعُونَ (٥٥) وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ فَإِنَّ حِزۡبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ (٥٦)

Indeed, your guardian (Wali) is none other than Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, – those who establish the prayers, give Zakat, and bow before Allah.  (55) And whosoever takes Allah, His Messenger, and those who have believed, as guardians.  It is the members of Allah’ party who are the victorious. (5:55-56)

Allah gives a warning to the believers who may renege on their belief, He will replace them:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَن يَرۡتَدَّ مِنكُمۡ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَسَوۡفَ يَأۡتِى ٱللَّهُ بِقَوۡمٍ۬ يُحِبُّہُمۡ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ ۥۤ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ يُجَـٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوۡمَةَ لَآٮِٕمٍ۬‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤۡتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٲسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ (٥٤)

O you who believe, if any of you turn back from his religion, Allah will bring forth people whom He loves and they love Him, they are humble toward the believers, mighty with the disbelievers. They strive in the way of Allah and are not afraid of the reproach of any critic.  Such is the grace of Allah which He confers on whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing. (5:54)

Allah confirmed in the Surat that the religion of Islam is completed, and this requires the assurance that the Messenger (PBUH) will remain alive until he completes the delivery of the whole divine message.  This assurance can only be guaranteed by Allah:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغۡ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ‌ۖ وَإِن لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلۡ فَمَا بَلَّغۡتَ رِسَالَتَهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (٦٧)

O Messenger, proclaim all that has been sent down to you from your Lord. For if you do not then you will have not conveyed His Message. Allah will protect you from mankind. Indeed, Allah does not guide the people who disbelieve. (5:67)

The Surat progresses to verse 90 in which Allah calls upon the believers with the command prohibiting the intoxicants and gambling as well as anything the violates the concept of monotheism:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡخَمۡرُ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرُ وَٱلۡأَنصَابُ وَٱلۡأَزۡلَـٰمُ رِجۡسٌ۬ مِّنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ فَٱجۡتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ (٩٠)

O you who believed; intoxicants, gambling, idols and divining arrows are filth, made up by Satan. Shun them so that you may be successful. (5:90)

In verses 101 and 102, Allah gives the believers a special call with the command not to keep asking regarding things that Allah did not discuss.  But if they keep asking, Allah will set rules regarding them that will impose constrain on them.

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَسۡـَٔلُواْ عَنۡ أَشۡيَآءَ إِن تُبۡدَ لَكُمۡ تَسُؤۡكُمۡ وَإِن تَسۡـَٔلُواْ عَنۡہَا حِينَ يُنَزَّلُ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ تُبۡدَ لَكُمۡ عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنۡہَا‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ۬ (١٠١) قَدۡ سَأَلَهَا قَوۡمٌ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِڪُمۡ ثُمَّ أَصۡبَحُواْ بِہَا كَـٰفِرِينَ (١٠٢)

O you who believe, do not ask of things which, if they were made known unto you, would trouble you (with further obligations).  Yet, if you ask of them when the Qur’an is being revealed, they will be disclosed to you. Allah has pardoned this, for Allah is all-Forgiving, most Forbearing. (101)  People before you asked (for such disclosures) and then they became disbelievers. (5:101-102)

In verse 105, Allah calls on the believers to be responsible for themselves and to remain committed to fulfilling their pledges even if everyone else violated them.

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ عَلَيۡكُمۡ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۖ لَا يَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ إِذَا ٱهۡتَدَيۡتُمۡ‌ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ جَمِيعً۬ا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ (١٠٥)

O you who believe! It is incumbent upon you to safeguard your own souls. Those who will go astray will not harm you if you are rightly guided. To Allah is your return, all of you; and then He will inform you of what you used to do. (5:105)

This verse does not mean giving up on others; it only means that as a believer you cannot be a follower.  You should do the right thing even if everyone else is doing the wrong thing.

In the closing section of the Surat, Allah reveals that He will gather the Messengers to ask them about their followers.

يَوۡمَ يَجۡمَعُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَآ أُجِبۡتُمۡ‌ۖ قَالُواْ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ‌ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلۡغُيُوبِ (١٠٩)

“In the day, Hereafter, Allah assembles all the messengers and say to them: What has been the response of your people to you?  They say: We have no knowledge. Indeed, it is You who are the Knower of Things Hidden, (5:109)

 

The ending of the Surat focuses on the questioning of Prophet Isa, Jesus (PBUH) regarding what he delivered to his disciples and the rest of his followers regarding whether he ever claimed that he is God:

وَإِذۡ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَـٰعِيسَى ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ ءَأَنتَ قُلۡتَ لِلنَّاسِ ٱتَّخِذُونِى وَأُمِّىَ إِلَـٰهَيۡنِ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ قَالَ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِىٓ أَنۡ أَقُولَ مَا لَيۡسَ لِى بِحَقٍّ‌ۚ إِن كُنتُ قُلۡتُهُ ۥ فَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتَهُ ۥ‌ۚ تَعۡلَمُ مَا فِى نَفۡسِى وَلَآ أَعۡلَمُ مَا فِى نَفۡسِكَ‌ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلۡغُيُوبِ (١١٦( مَا قُلۡتُ لَهُمۡ إِلَّا مَآ أَمَرۡتَنِى بِهِۦۤ أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبَّكُمۡ‌ۚ  —(١١٧)

 And when Allah said: “O Isa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), did you say to the people; “Take me and my mother as gods beside Allah?  He said: Glory to You, it does not behoove me to say what is not right for me. If I said it, You would have known it. You know what is in my mind, and I do not know what is in Your Mind. You alone have full o! knowledge of all that is unseen. (116) I have not said to them anything but what You have ordered me to say, that is Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. (5:116-117)

The Suart ends with the declaration that Truth is the only thing that Allah values and rewards for:

قَالَ ٱللَّهُ هَـٰذَا يَوۡمُ يَنفَعُ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ صِدۡقُهُمۡ‌ۚ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٌ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَآ أَبَدً۬ا‌ۚ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡہُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ (١١٩) لِلَّهِ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا فِيہِنَّ‌ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرُۢ (١٢٠)

“Allah said: This is a day on the truth shall benefit the truthful. For them there are gardens underneath which rivers flow, where they will live forever, Allah is well-pleased with them, and they are well-pleased with Allah. That is the great triumph. (119) To Allah belongs the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and whatsoever lies therein, and He has power over all things.” (Al-Maeda 5:119-120)