Thus We appointed you a midmost nation that you might be witnesses to the people, and that the Messenger might be a witness to you; and We did not appoint the direction thou wast facing, except that We might know who followed the Messenger from him who turned on his heels -- though it were a grave thing save for those whom God has guided; but God would never leave your faith to waste - truly, God is All-gentle with the people, All-compassionate.
و بدين گونه شما را امتى ميانه قرار داديم، تا بر مردم گواه باشيد؛ و پيامبر بر شما گواه باشد. و قبله‌اى را كه [چندى‌] بر آن بودى، مقرر نكرديم جز براى آنكه كسى را كه از پيامبر پيروى مى‌كند، از آن كس كه از عقيده خود برمى‌گردد بازشناسيم؛ هر چند [اين كار] جز بر كسانى كه خدا هدايت‌[شان‌] كرده، سخت گران بود؛ و خدا بر آن نبود كه ايمان شما را ضايع گرداند، زيرا خدا [نسبت‌] به مردم دلسوز و مهربان است.