Tafsir of Al-Ma'idah 5:57

"O you who have believed..."

It is narrated that Rifa'ah ibn Zayd and Suwayd ibn al-Harith had professed Islam, then became hypocrites. Some Muslims continued to befriend them, so this verse was revealed.

It means that their taking your religion as mockery and play cannot be met with you taking them as allies; rather, it must be met with hatred, loathing, and opposition.

The distinction made between those who mock from among the People of the Book and the Kuffar (disbelievers)—even though the People of the Book are Kuffar—is an application of the term Kuffar specifically to the polytheists. The evidence for this is the recitation of ‘Abdullah [ibn Mas‘ud]: "And from those who associate partners (with Allah)." It is also recited as wa-l-kuffara (in the accusative) and wa-l-kuffari (in the genitive). The genitive reading is supported by the recitation of Ubayy [ibn Ka‘b]: "And from the Kuffar."

"And fear Allah..." Regarding befriending the disbelievers and other matters.

"...if you are believers." Truly, for true faith refuses to befriend the enemies of the religion.

"They take it..." The pronoun refers to the Salah (prayer) or the Adhan (call to prayer).

It is said there was a man among the Christians in Medina who, when he heard the caller to prayer say, "I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," would say, "May the liar burn." One night, while he was sleeping, his servant entered with fire; a spark flew from it into the house, and the house burned down, along with him and his family.

It is also said that this contains evidence for the establishment of the Adhan by the text of the Qur'an, not by dreams alone.

"...they do not reason." Because their play and mockery are the actions of the foolish and the ignorant, as if they possess no intellect.