إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ 2
Translations
The believers are only those who, when Allāh is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely -
Transliteration
Innamaa al-mu'minoon alladheen idha dhukira Allahu wajilat quloobuhum wa idha tuliyat alayhim ayaatuh zaadat hum eemanan wa alaa rabbihim yatawakkaloon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah defines true believers as those whose hearts tremble with awe when Allah is mentioned, whose faith increases upon hearing His verses recited, and who place complete trust in their Lord. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this describes the characteristics of sincere believers who possess both fear (khawf) and hope (raja), demonstrating their spiritual sensitivity and unwavering dependence on Allah.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during the early post-Badr period, this ayah comes within Surah Al-Anfal's discussion of the qualities that distinguish true believers from hypocrites. It establishes the spiritual benchmarks for faith shortly after the Battle of Badr, contrasting genuine believers with those whose commitment was superficial.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who have the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, Anas ibn Malik reported that when verses were recited, the Prophet's Companions would weep and their hearts would tremble with fear of Allah (Sunan Ibn Majah), exemplifying the state described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith is not merely intellectual belief but a living, dynamic condition that manifests as reverence for the Divine, responsiveness to Scripture, and complete reliance on Allah's wisdom and provision. Believers should regularly assess whether their hearts still tremble at the mention of Allah and whether they experience renewed faith when hearing His words.