أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَٰتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُهْتَدُونَ 157
Translations
Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.
Transliteration
Ulā'ika 'alayhim salawātun min rabbihim wa rahmatun wa ulā'ika humu al-muhtadūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who believe in the unseen and establish prayer, indicating that upon them descend blessings (salawāt) and mercy from their Lord, and they are the truly guided ones. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that 'salawāt' here means Allah's praise, honor, and blessings upon the believers, while 'rahma' (mercy) represents His compassion and forgiveness. This ayah concludes the description of the muttaqin (the God-fearing) begun in verses 2:2-5, affirming that true guidance and divine favor belong exclusively to those who possess complete faith and righteous action.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:1-5) which describes the characteristics of the believers who will succeed. The surah was revealed in Medina after the Hijrah, and this particular passage establishes the spiritual foundation for the Muslim community, contrasting the guided believers with those who reject faith and those who are hypocrites (munāfiqūn), described in subsequent verses.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Also relevant is the hadith: 'Whoever guides to good is like one who does it' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2674), connecting guidance with divine reward and mercy.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers who maintain sincere faith and righteous deeds receive continuous blessings and mercy from Allah, and this divine favor is the ultimate measure of success. In our modern context, this encourages us to seek authentic guidance through Qur'anic knowledge and righteous action, knowing that true prosperity lies not in worldly gains but in being among those whom Allah has guided and blessed.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ
And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we will never believe you until we see Allāh outright"; so the thunderbolt took you while you were looking on.
سَلْ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ كَمْ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم مِّنْ ءَايَةٍۭ بَيِّنَةٍ ۗ وَمَن يُبَدِّلْ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
Ask the Children of Israel how many a sign of evidence We have given them. And whoever exchanges the favor of Allāh [for disbelief] after it has come to him - then indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.
قُلْنَا ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
We said, "Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
فَإِنْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِمِثْلِ مَآ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ فَقَدِ ٱهْتَدَوا۟ ۖ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّمَا هُمْ فِى شِقَاقٍ ۖ فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
So if they believe in the same as you believe in, then they have been [rightly] guided; but if they turn away, they are only in dissension, and Allāh will be sufficient for you against them. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing.