The Holy Quran 2:143 — Surah Al-Baqarah

Arabic text

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا ٱلْقِبْلَةَ ٱلَّتِى كُنتَ عَلَيْهَآ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَـٰنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Translation

Thus (just as Allaah has guided the Muslims to the straight path) We have made you (the Ummah of Rasulullaah ﷺ) such a group that is moderate in nature (free from excesses and shortcomings) so that you may be witnesses (on the Day of Qiyaamah) over people and the messenger (Rasulullaah ﷺ) a witness over you (When the nations of previous prophets will deny that their prophes preached the truth to them, the prophets will call for the Ummah of Rasulullaah ﷺ as witnesses for them. When the Ummah of Rasulullaah ﷺ testify that the prophets were truthful, they will be asked how they know this when they were not present during the times of the others. To this, the Ummah of Rasulullaah ﷺ will say that Rasulullaah ﷺ had informed them. Rasulullaah ﷺ will then make it clear that his Ummah are truthful). And We changed the Qibla towards which you faced only so that We may distinguish the ones who will follow the Prophet ﷺ from those who will turn back on their heels (and leave Islaam with the excuse that Rasulullaah ﷺ is changing the Deen). Verily this (changing of the Qibla) is a difficult matter (for all) except those whom Allaah has guided. Allaah will not let your Imaan (the salaah you performed facing Baytul Maqdas) go to waste. Verily Allaah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful unto mankind.

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The virtues of the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ: that is, just as your qibla is the Kaaba, which was the qibla of Ibrahim ﵇ and is superior to all qiblas, in the same way We have made you the best of all nations and your Prophet ﷺ the most perfect and most chosen of all prophets, so that, by virtue of this excellence and perfection, you may be established as…

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