أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنْهُمْ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ وَعْدَ ٱلصِّدْقِ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ 16
Translations
Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised.
Transliteration
Ulā'ika alladhīna nataqqabbalu 'anhum ahsana mā 'amilū wa natajavāzu 'an sayyi'ātihim fī ashābi al-jannati wa'da al-sidqi alladhī kānū yu'adūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who will be admitted to Paradise, stating that Allah will accept from them their best deeds while pardoning their sins. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this refers to the believers whose good deeds outweigh their shortcomings, and it emphasizes Allah's mercy in accepting the best of their works and overlooking their faults entirely. The ayah concludes that this is the true promise—the promise of truthfulness—that they were being promised throughout their lives.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ahqaf is a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists and believers during the early Islamic period. This particular ayah contextualizes the reward of Paradise within the broader discussion of those who believe and do righteous deeds, contrasting them with those who reject the message. It serves as encouragement for the believers facing persecution in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'No one enters Paradise except by Allah's mercy.' When asked even the Prophet, he replied: 'Even I, unless Allah envelops me in His mercy.' (Sahih Bukhari 3321). Additionally, the hadith about the seven categories of people shaded on the Day of Judgment (Sahih Bukhari 629) relates to how Allah accepts the deeds of the righteous.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah offers profound comfort to believers: Allah does not judge us solely on our mistakes, but accepts our best efforts and overlooks our shortcomings through His infinite mercy. Modern readers should be encouraged that sincere effort in righteousness, coupled with repentance, is sufficient—perfection is not the standard, but rather striving with a sincere heart.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَعْدَهُۥٓ إِذْ تَحُسُّونَهُم بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَشِلْتُمْ وَتَنَـٰزَعْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ وَعَصَيْتُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَآ أَرَىٰكُم مَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ مِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۚ ثُمَّ صَرَفَكُمْ عَنْهُمْ لِيَبْتَلِيَكُمْ ۖ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا عَنكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And Allāh had certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you were killing them [i.e., the enemy] by His permission until [the time] when you lost courage and fell to disputing about the order [given by the Prophet (ﷺ)] and disobeyed after He had shown you that which you love. Among you are some who desire this world, and among you are some who desire the Hereafter. Then He turned you back from them [defeated] that He might test you. And He has already forgiven you, and Allāh is the possessor of bounty for the believers.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَءَامِنُوا۟ بِرَسُولِهِۦ يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُورًا تَمْشُونَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
O you who have believed, fear Allāh and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you; and Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
فَـَٔامَنُوا۟ فَمَتَّعْنَـٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
And they believed, so We gave them enjoyment [of life] for a time.
ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Then We forgave you after that so perhaps you would be grateful.