وَإِن كُنتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَٱلدَّارَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْمُحْسِنَـٰتِ مِنكُنَّ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا 29
Translations
But if you should desire Allāh and His Messenger and the home of the Hereafter - then indeed, Allāh has prepared for the doers of good among you a great reward."
Transliteration
Wa in kuntunna tureedna Allaha wa rasoolahu wa ad-dara al-akhirah fa inna Allaha a'adda lil-muhsinati minkunna ajran 'aẓeema
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him), offering them a choice between remaining with him or separation, contingent on their sincere intention to seek Allah, His Messenger, and the Hereafter. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that those among them who demonstrate excellent conduct and devotion to these noble goals will receive from Allah an immense reward, emphasizing that righteous deeds and pure intentions are the basis for divine recompense.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the passage (33:28-34) revealed in Medina regarding the Prophet's wives, likely after the Battle of the Ditch (Ahzab). The context involves the Prophet offering his wives a choice to either remain with him accepting a modest lifestyle, or to be released with maintenance. This reflects the testing of the wives' commitment to faith over material comfort.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report that 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) chose Allah and His Messenger over worldly provisions when given this choice. Additionally, the hadith in Tirmidhi emphasizes that actions are judged by intentions (Niyyah), directly relating to the emphasis on sincere intention in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that noble intentions and righteous conduct, not material possessions or worldly status, are the true measures of spiritual worth and divine reward. For believers today, it emphasizes that choosing closeness to Allah and the remembrance of the Hereafter, even when it requires sacrifice, guarantees immeasurable divine recompense.
Related Ayahs
وَٱذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَىٰ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْحِكْمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ لَطِيفًا خَبِيرًا
And remember what is recited in your houses of the verses of Allāh and wisdom. Indeed, Allāh is ever Subtle and Aware.
مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا۟ مَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّن قَضَىٰ نَحْبَهُۥ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُ ۖ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا۟ تَبْدِيلًا
Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allāh. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death], and among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration -
لِّيُعَذِّبَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَٱلْمُشْرِكَـٰتِ وَيَتُوبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًۢا
[It was] so that Allāh may punish the hypocrite men and hypocrite women and the men and women who associate others with Him and that Allāh may accept repentance from the believing men and believing women. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًا
Muḥammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allāh and seal [i.e., last] of the prophets. And ever is Allāh, of all things, Knowing.