ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَهُمْ وَٱلْمُقِيمِى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ 35
Translations
Who, when Allāh is mentioned, their hearts are fearful, and [to] the patient over what has afflicted them, and the establishers of prayer and those who spend from what We have provided them.
Transliteration
Alladhīna idhā dhukira Allāhu wajilat qulūbuhum wa-al-sābirīna 'alā mā asābahum wa-al-muqīmī al-salāta wa-mimmā razaqnāhum yunfiqūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the characteristics of the believers who truly fear Allah: their hearts tremble with awe when Allah is mentioned, they patiently endure trials and afflictions, they establish the prayer, and they spend from the provisions Allah has given them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, these qualities represent the comprehensive path to spiritual excellence—combining reverence for Allah, steadfastness in adversity, devotion in worship, and generosity in charity. The trembling of hearts (wajilat) mentioned here signifies a deep, living fear of Allah that produces consciousness and vigilance in one's faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Hajj (a Medinan surah) where Allah is describing the attributes of true believers and the rewards awaiting them. It comes as part of a broader passage emphasizing the qualities that distinguish the God-conscious from others, connecting devotion to both the vertical (relationship with Allah) and horizontal (treatment of people) dimensions of faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Sunan Ibn Majah 1977), relating to the comprehensive moral character described in this ayah. Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'The strong person is not the one who wrestles, but the one who controls himself when angry' (Sahih Bukhari 6114), reflecting the patience and self-control implied in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith is not merely intellectual belief but manifests as an emotional reverence for Allah that motivates righteous action—enduring hardship with dignity, maintaining regular prayer, and sharing blessings generously. For modern believers, this ayah teaches that spiritual growth requires cultivating God-consciousness in the heart, which then naturally flows into ethical behavior and social responsibility.
Related Ayahs
وَلَنُسْكِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِى وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ
And We will surely cause you to dwell in the land after them. That is for he who fears My position and fears My threat."
أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ يَـٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۚ قَدْ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكُمْ ذِكْرًا
Allāh has prepared for them a severe punishment; so fear Allāh, O you of understanding who have believed. Allāh has sent down to you a message [i.e., the Qur’ān].
قُلْ مَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أَمَّن يَمْلِكُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ وَمَن يُخْرِجُ ٱلْحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلْحَىِّ وَمَن يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ ۚ فَسَيَقُولُونَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ فَقُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ
Say, "Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? Or who controls hearing and sight and who brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living and who arranges [every] matter?" They will say, "Allāh," so say, "Then will you not fear Him?"
ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتُوا۟ بِٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهَآ أَوْ يَخَافُوٓا۟ أَن تُرَدَّ أَيْمَـٰنٌۢ بَعْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
That is more likely that they will give testimony according to its [true] objective, or [at least] they would fear that [other] oaths might be taken after their oaths. And fear Allāh and listen [i.e., obey Him]; and Allāh does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.