Answers: Al-Ma'idah 5:69

The entirety of the Quran emphasizes the necessity of believing in it along with the Messenger (the Prophet Muhammad) ﷺ who brought it to them, as does the rest of Surat al-Ma’idah in which this verse appears. Therefore, it should be understood in one or both of these ways:

1. It pertains to the followers of previous religions based on guidance revealed through the Prophets who were sent over the centuries: whoever followed these ways faithfully has their reward vouchsafed in the Hereafter.
2. It calls upon all these communities (at the time of revelation and after) to enter into the true faith, as genuinely “believing in God and the Last Day” is only achieved by accepting all His Messengers including the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The only “good deeds” which are accepted are those done in line with the revealed guidance in the Quran and Sunnah (teachings of the Prophet).

To understand a verse like this properly, we must look at it alongside such verses that emphasize that Muhammad ﷺ is a messenger sent by God to all mankind (7:158, 34:28), that command the People of the Book to believe in him (5:19), that command mankind to believe in the Quran or emphasize that its message is for all nations (25:1, 68:52).

This verse supports the overall message of the Quran that everyone must follow the true faith as conveyed by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the last prophet.