Translation of the meanings Ayah 143 Surah Al-Baqarah - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 143

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ أُمَّةٗ وَسَطٗا لِّتَكُونُواْ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ شَهِيدٗاۗ وَمَا جَعَلۡنَا ٱلۡقِبۡلَةَ ٱلَّتِي كُنتَ عَلَيۡهَآ إِلَّا لِنَعۡلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيۡهِۚ وَإِن كَانَتۡ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُۗ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَٰنَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٞ

143. Thus We have made you (Muslims) a medium (just and the best) nation40 that you be witness over the people and (that) the Messenger (Muhammad) be a witness over you. We did not make the Qiblah 'direction' which you had been facing, except that We might distinguish him who follows the messenger (Muhammad) from him who turns back upon his heels. And it was certainly a difficult test except for those whom Allāh guided. Never Allāh would make your faith (prayers) go to waste, for Allāh is Affectionate, Merciful to the people.

40. Between negligence and extremism.