Freedom of belief: How do you reconcile these two?

Sources

• ✓ 30:44 · Ar-Room

  30:44 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُۥ ۖ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحًۭا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ

  Whoso disbelieveth must (then) bear the consequences of his disbelief, while those who do right make provision for themselves -

• ✓ 6:82 · Al-An'aam

  6:82 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوٓا۟ إِيمَٰنَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱلْأَمْنُ وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ

  Those who believe and obscure not their belief by wrongdoing, theirs is safety; and they are rightly guided.

• ✓ 5:54 · Al-Maaida

  5:54 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِى ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍۢ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُۥٓ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ يُجَٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَآئِمٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

  O ye who believe! Whoso of you becometh a renegade from his religion, (know that in his stead) Allah will bring a people whom He loveth and who love Him, humble toward believers, stern toward disbelievers, striving in the way of Allah, and fearing not the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of Allah which He giveth unto whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.

• ✓ 109:6 · Al-Kaafiroon

  109:6 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِىَ دِينِ

  Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion.

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 5:54

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 5:54

  Allah Almighty begins by asserting His supreme power, declaring that if anyone forsakes supporting His religion and implementing His law, Allah will replace them with others better suited—stronger and firmer on the right path. The Qur'an confirms this in other verses: "And if you turn away, He will substitute a people other than you; then they will not be like you" (Muhammad 47:38), "If He wills, He will remove you, O people, and bring others" (An-Nisa 4:133), and "If He wills, He will eliminate you and bring a new creation. And that is not difficult for Allah" (Ibrahim 14:19-20). This signifies Allah's ability and authority to replace any group upon their abandonment of His cause, a matter effortless for Him. Here, Allah addresses the believers: "O you who have believed, whoever among you turns back from his religion" meaning whoever abandons the truth and reverts to falsehood. Muhammad ibn Ka’b reported that this verse was revealed concerning the rulers from Quraysh. Al-Hasan al-Basri stated it was revealed about those who apostasized during the caliphate of Abu Bakr. Regarding the phrase: "Soon Allah will bring forth a people He loves and who love Him," al-Hasan identified them as Abu Bakr and his companions (may Allah be pleased with them). This narration was transmitted by Ibn Abi Hatim. Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah mentioned that Abu Bakr ibn 'Ayyash said those lovers were from the people of al-Qadisiyyah. Lays ibn Abi Sulaym narrated from Mujahid that they were a people from Saba (Yemen). Ibn Abi Hatim related from Abu Sa'id al-Ashaj, from Abdullah ibn al-Ajlah, from Muhammad ibn Amr, from Salim, from Sa'id ibn Jubayr, from Ibn Abbas that this verse referred primarily to a people from Yemen, then from Kindah, and then from the regions of Sakun. Additionally, Mu’awiyeh ibn Hafs narrated from Abu Ziyad al-Hilfani, from Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, from Jabir ibn Abdullah, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about this verse. He said: "These are a people from Yemen, then from Kindah, then from Sakun, then those who respond (to Allah)." Ibn Abi Hatim described this hadith as extremely rare. He also narrated from others that when this verse was revealed, the Prophet said: "They are this people." This was also narrated by Ibn Jarir from the narration of Shu’bah. Next, Allah says: "They are humble toward the believers, stern toward the disbelievers." Ibn Kathir explains this as the qualities of perfect believers—to be humble and gentle with their brothers and allies, yet firm and strong against their enemies and adversaries. Allah said elsewhere: "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are severe against disbelievers, merciful among themselves" (Al-Fath 48:29). The Prophet Muhammad’s character was described as “laughing, yet fierce in battle,” smiling and kind to his friends but fierce against his foes. Allah continues: "They strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of any blamer." That is, such believers are not deterred from their obedience to Allah, fighting His enemies, establishing His limits, commanding good and forbidding evil, by any obstacle or criticism. No reproof or blame prevents or distracts them from fulfilling their duties. Imam Ahmad related from Abu Dharr, who said the Prophet commanded him with seven things: to love the poor and be close to them; to look to those beneath him, not those above; to maintain the ties of kinship even if they turn away; not to ask anyone for anything; to speak the truth even if bitter; not to fear the blame of anyone in Allah's cause; and to frequently say "There is no power nor strength except from Allah," as these words are a treasure beneath the Throne. Abu Dharr also said the Prophet made a covenant with him to fear no blame in Allah’s cause, even promising paradise for such steadfastness. The Prophet said, as related by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri: "Let no one be prevented by fear of people from speaking the truth when he sees or witnesses it; indeed, fear of people neither brings advantage nor distances provision." Imam Ahmad also related a hadith advising not to belittle oneself by witnessing a matter of Allah but remaining silent for fear of blame, for on the Day of Judgment, the servant will be asked why he did not speak out. In the authentic collections, the Prophet said: "A true believer should not humiliate himself"—meaning he should not bear unbearable afflictions silently. Then Allah asserts: "That is the bounty of Allah; He gives it to whom He wills." Those who embody these qualities succeed only by Divine grace and guidance, and Allah knows best who deserves this favor. Regarding the statement: "Your ally is none but Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed," it means the Jews are not your true allies; rather, your guardianship is to return to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. About "those who establish prayer and give zakah while they kneel": these are the believers characterized by these traits—establishing prayer, which is the greatest pillar of Islam, worshiping Allah alone, and giving zakah, which is the right of creatures and assistance to the needy among the weak and poor. Some misunderstood "while they are kneeling" to mean giving zakah during the act of bowing in prayer. If that were so, giving zakah during bowing would be more rewarded, but none of the recognized scholars endorse this. Some report from Ali ibn Abi Talib that this verse was revealed about him when a beggar passed by while he was bowing, and he gave him his ring. Ibn Abi Hatim narrated from Al-Rabee’ ibn Suleiman that the verse about your allies being Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, refers specifically to the believers and Ali ibn Abi Talib. Abu Sa'id al-Ashaj narrated from Al-Fadl ibn Dukayn that Musa ibn Qais narrates from Salamah ibn Kuhail: Ali gave alms while he was bowing, so this verse was revealed. Ibn Jarir reported from Al-Harith, from Abdul Aziz, from Ghalib ibn Ubaidullah that Mujahid said the verse about your allies being Allah’s (5:55) was revealed concerning Ali, giving charity while bowing. Abd al-Razzaq reported from Abd al-Wahhab ibn Mujahid from his father and Ibn Abbas regarding this verse that it was revealed concerning Ali ibn Abi Talib—though Abd al-Wahhab ibn Mujahid is considered unreliable. Also narrated by Ibn Mardawayh from Sufyan al-Thawri, from Abu Sinan, from Ad-Dahhak, from Ibn Abbas, that Ali was praying, a poor person asked, and Ali gave him his ring while bowing; thus this verse was revealed. However, this chain is weak due to unknown narrators. Ibn Mardawayh also reported from Muhammad ibn As-Sa’ib al-Kalbi, considered unreliable, a similar narration from Abu Salih from Ibn Abbas. This version relates that the Prophet went to the mosque while people were praying in various postures and a poor person asked for help. The Prophet inquired if he had received something and the man said Ali gave him his ring during bowing. The Prophet then glorified Allah, reciting the verse, "And whoever turns to Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed, then the party of Allah are the victorious." This chain of narration is weak. Then Ibn Mardawayh reported a narration directly from Ali, Ammar ibn Yasir, and Abu Rafi’, though none of these narrations are fully authentic due to weak chains and the unknown status of the narrators. Ibn Jarir mentioned he asked Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq about this verse and was told the believers are those who have faith, and Ali was among them. Asbat narrated from As-Suddi that this verse concerned all the believers, but Ali gave charity while bowing and this event was the reason for the verse. Ali ibn Abi Talhah al-Walibi reported from Ibn Abbas that whoever submits is truly allied with Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. Previously narrated is that all these verses came down concerning Ubadah ibn as-Samit when he repudiated a pact with the Jews and accepted allegiance to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. Hence, Allah follows this all by saying: "And whoever takes Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed as allies, then the party of Allah are the victorious," matching Allah's promise elsewhere about the triumph of His supporters despite adversity (Al-Mujadalah 58:21-22). Thus, whoever consents to the guardianship of Allah, His Messenger, and the believers attains success in this world and the hereafter, and they will be victorious in both.