سَابِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ 21
Translations
Race [i.e., compete] toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allāh and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allāh which He gives to whom He wills, and Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.
Transliteration
Sabiqoo ilaa maghfiratim mir rabbikum wa jannatin aardhuha ka-ardhi as-samaa'i wa-al-ard. Uaddiat lilladhina amanoo billahi wa rusulih. Dhaaliка fadhlul-laahi yu'teeh man yashaa. Wa-allahu dhoo al-fadhl al-atheem.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah calls the believers to race eagerly toward forgiveness from their Lord and Paradise, whose width extends as far as the heavens and the earth—prepared specifically for those who believe in Allah and His messengers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the comparison of Paradise's vastness to the heavens and earth emphasizes its incomprehensible magnitude, and the phrase 'race toward' (sabiqoo) uses the metaphor of competition to inspire urgency in righteous deeds. This paradise is described as Allah's supreme favor, granted to whomever He wills, highlighting both divine mercy and the importance of human striving.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Hadid is a Medinan surah that emphasizes belief, spending in Allah's way, and the transient nature of worldly life. This particular ayah appears in a section encouraging believers to compete in good deeds and charity, reflecting the Islamic call to proactive spiritual engagement rather than passive faith. The context encourages the Muslim community to prioritize eternal rewards over temporary worldly gains.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The first group to enter Paradise will have faces as bright as the full moon,' and 'Paradise is as wide as the heavens and the earth' (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Paradise). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Whoever believes in Allah and His messenger and does righteous deeds shall have his reward with his Lord' (Sahih Bukhari 4:50).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that believers should maintain a sense of spiritual urgency and continuously strive toward Allah's forgiveness and pleasure, viewing the journey to Paradise as a noble competition rather than a passive state. It reminds us that entrance to Paradise is granted by Allah's grace to those who combine sincere faith with righteous action, motivating us to prioritize spiritual development over material pursuits.