Qur'an Reflections - Al-Maidah 82-86
In verses 82 to 86 of Surah Al-Ma’idah, Allah SWT specifically mentions the Christians. This is essentially a continuation from the previous verses, where Allah discusses the beliefs of the Christians and addresses the Ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book). In these verses, Allah SWT states that, in terms of enmity towards Muslims, the Jews and the polytheists are more severe, whereas the Christians tend to be more friendly and non-violent toward Muslims. Many of them have been helpful to Muslims, particularly because they were open to seeking knowledge and discovering the truth. Among them are hermits who renounce worldly pleasures in pursuit of God’s pleasure. These verses specifically refer to the Abyssinian ruler Najashi. We know the famous story of this ruler—when the words of the Qur’an were recited to him and his people, they recognized them as the word of God. They were moved to tears, acknowledged the truth, and accepted Islam. As a result, Allah promises them Paradise,...