Tafseer of The Table · Al-Maaida · 5:100
Say, "Not equal are the evil and the good, although the abundance of evil might impress you." So fear Allah, O you of understanding, that you may be successful.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The word concerning the explanation of His statement: Say: the evil and the good are not equal, even though the abundance of evil amazes you
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says to His Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ: Say, O Muḥammad: the evil and the good are not equal, nor the corrupt and the sound, nor the righteous and the wicked, nor the obedient and the disobedient. "even though the abundance of evil amazes you," He says: the disobedient and the one obedient to Allah are not equal in the sight of Allah, even though the people of disobedience are numerous and you marvel at their number; for the people of obedience to Allah are the ones who succeed and who attain the reward of Allah on the Day of Resurrection, even though they are few in number, in contrast to the people of His disobedience. And indeed, the people of His acts of disobedience are the greatest losers and the disappointed ones, even though they are numerous.
The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says to His Prophet ﷺ: So do not marvel at the abundance of those who disobey Allah, while He grants him respite and does not hasten the punishment upon him; for the good outcome belongs with Him to the people of obedience to Allah, and not to them, as in:
12793 - Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn related to me, saying: Aḥmad ibn al-Mufaḍḍal related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī, "the evil and the good are not equal, even though the abundance of evil amazes you," he said: the evil, those are the polytheists (mushrikīn), and "the good," those are the believers.
And this discourse, even though its outward form is that of an address to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, is in reality directed to some of his followers. To this points His statement: "So fear Allah, O people of understanding, that you may succeed."
The word concerning the explanation of His statement: So fear Allah, O people of understanding, that you may succeed (5:100).
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: And fear Allah by obeying Him in what He has commanded you and forbidden you, and beware lest the devil gain mastery over you through your marveling at the abundance of evil, so that you would come to be among them. "O people of understanding," by it He means the people of insight and understanding, who have comprehended the signs of Allah and known the places of His proofs. "that you may succeed," He says: fear Allah that you may succeed, that is: that you may prosper in your striving for what is with Him.
