Surah Al-Baqarah
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا ٱلْقِبْلَةَ ٱلَّتِى كُنتَ عَلَيْهَآ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَـٰنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Wa każālika ja‘alnākum ummataw wasaṭal litakūnū syuhadā'a ‘alan-nāsi wa yakūnar-rasūlu ‘alaikum syahīdā(n), wa mā ja‘alnal-qiblatal-latī kunta ‘alaihā illā lina‘lama may yattabi‘ur-rasūla mimmay yanqalibu ‘alā ‘aqibaih(i), wa in kānat lakabīratan illā ‘alal-lażīna hadallāh(u), wa mā kānallāhu liyuḍī‘a īmānakum, innallāha bin-nāsi lara'ūfur raḥīm(un).
And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We did not make the qiblah which you used to face except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger from who would turn back on his heels. And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allah has guided. And never would Allah have caused you to lose your faith. Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.
📝 Footnotes
40) A middle nation (umat pertengahan) means a chosen, best, just, and balanced community—whether in belief, thought, attitude, or behavior.