وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ  

Allah has promised those of you who

believe and do good deeds

    Allah's promise is always fulfilled, it always comes true.  Allah (swt) gives a special promise to the believers who do the good deeds.

Ø  Allah (swt) chose the believer because he is a man of solid faith, who strives hard to please the Almighty, and who takes Allah (swt) as his overseer in anything he does.  Such a believer does Allah's work which is good deeds.  The good work consists of the constructive work, the work for the good of the society, for the benefit of mankind, and for the welfare of all concerned, justly, and equitably.

لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُم فِي الأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ  

that He will grant them authority in the Earth,

as He had granted it to those before them,

    Allah promises the believers who do His work (the good deeds) that He grants them the privilege to be people of authority, power, and influence on earth.  But Allah (swt) gives this privilege only to the deserving ones, who work for it in the Islamic way.  When believers become rulers, people of authority and power, they will be benevolent rulers, kind, humane, and just with no tyranny.

    As long as they hold to the Islamic qualities Allah will sustain their rule, and the society will prosper, be in peace and harmony.  The society will feel good and will be good.

    Allah promises the believers that doing His work on earth is rewarding and will stand to benefit everyone in the long run.  Islam is the focus, and the closer we come to applying it, the sooner we will reap the results, and the sooner Islam prevails.

وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ   

And He shall certainly establish their religion (Islam)

which He has approved for them,

    Allah (swt) promises the believers not only rule, influence, and authority, but also the establishment of Allah's Directives deeper in their hearts and the hearts of people.  Islam is the religion Allah (swt) wants for humanity, in its entirety.  It is to be in the hearts of people, ever deeper, and their hearts light with its enlightenment and clear guidance.

وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّن بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا  

and He will give them in exchange security after their fear

    And when the believers become people of authority and in charge of their own affairs they will live in security.  They will live without anxiety, worry, or fear.  Their rights will be well protected, safe and secure.

 يَعْبُدُونَنِي لا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا  

That they shall worship Me and not associate any one with Me;

    Allah is specific now and very explicit, "That the believers shall worship Me," He says, "and pay attention to Me."  Allah (swt) says so because the believer remembers Allah all through his actions.  By so doing, he will act to improve the conditions of the people under his authority, and will be benevolent to them.

    Therefore, such a Muslim will solve the society's problems with Allah in his mind.  Total dedication to Allah and Islam is the basis that assures the continuity of this power on earth, and the persistence of this authority.

وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ  

And whosoever disbelieve after this,

then they are the wicked transgressors.

    A believer has full faith in Allah's Word and he does not question it, he accepts it fully and completely.

    On the other hand, people who reject the faith are disbelievers, they were abundant at the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) just as they are at the present time, if not more so.

    Allah knows what is in the hearts of people, so He condemns the disbelievers as wicked and transgressors, and He cautions us about them.

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ   

Establish Salat and pay the Zakat

    Salat is one of the acts of worship, it keeps us in repeated communion with Allah and reminds us of obedience to His Authority.  Salat reminds us of the Islamic Directives and teachings, of doing the good deeds and avoiding evil or committing the bad.

    Zakat is performing charitable acts, giving material goods to the needy, to help, foster, and relieve people of their miseries.

    Allah reminds the believers that they can hold to authority and power by faith in Him and in  Islam, keeping up Salats, and being charitable, and doing the good deeds, and preventing evil.

وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ   

And obey the Messenger (of Allah), so that you may receive mercy.

    Allah reminds Muslims to obey the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) since they are the teachings of Allah as revealed to him.

    This Ayah compliments the previous ones.  The authority granted the believers comes through:

1. Worship of Allah and associating none with Him.

2. Observing Salat thus remembering the Almighty often.

3. Giving regular charity be it material or in deeds.

4. Obeying Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) since applying his instructions means applying Islam.

    Through these we attain the Islamic personality.  And through such links we follow true guidance.

لا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مُعْجِزِينَ فِي الأرْضِ  

Think noy that the disbelievers can ever frustrate

Allah's plan on earth.

    Disbelievers abound, be it at the time of the Prophet (pbuh) or at the present time.  Disbelievers may think that they are powerful, people of authority and great means.  To them the present world is to take advantage of, and it is what counts, and they may try to influence the believers to change to their ways.  If they fail, they may take to fighting the believers and take advantage of them.

    Allah reminds the believers that their faith, Islam, is the greatest source of strength and it can do wonders.  He reminds them that the power of faith is mightier and stronger than other powers, and through Islam they can fare very well.  Given the proper circumstances, the power of faith can outdo any other, leaving the disbelievers in total failure.

وَمَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ وَلَبِئْسَ الْمَصِير  

Their abode is the Fire; a wretched destination it is.

    In this Ayah Allah condemns the disbelievers severely.  It is true that Allah through His mercy allows people to be free to enjoy life on earth as they please, but it is also true that every human will be judged meticulously and in just manner on the Day of Judgment, and according to his deeds will be rewarded either Paradise or be sentenced to Hell.

    The disbelievers stand to lose.  Their abode will be Hell-Fire, and what an ominous terrible end.  The disbelievers have asked for it and deserved it.  They were warned but did not heed, and if there is anyone to blame, it is themselves.