فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ 10
Translations
And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allāh, and remember Allāh often that you may succeed.
Transliteration
Fa-idha qudiyat al-salatu faintashiru fi al-ardi wabtaghu min fadl-illahi wadhkuru al-laha kathiran laallakum tufliun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to disperse throughout the land in pursuit of lawful provision (rizq) after completing the Friday prayer, while maintaining constant remembrance of Allah. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse balances spiritual obligation with legitimate worldly pursuits, permitting and even encouraging work and trade after fulfilling religious duties, provided one does not neglect the remembrance of Allah in all endeavors.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina, this ayah addresses the early Muslim community's practice of Friday congregational prayer. The context reflects the practical needs of the nascent Islamic society, where believers had to balance their spiritual obligations with the necessity of earning their livelihood. Some scholars note this was also a response to certain believers who remained in the mosque excessively after prayer rather than engaging in lawful commerce.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi), emphasizing the importance of providing for one's family through work. Additionally, the Prophet encouraged seeking provision through lawful means: 'No one eats better food than that which he eats out of the work of his own hand' (Sahih Bukhari).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Islam does not separate the sacred from the secular; believers are encouraged to work diligently for their sustenance while maintaining conscious awareness of Allah in all their endeavors. True success (falah) lies in fulfilling both our spiritual duties and our responsibilities to earn honest livelihood, all while keeping Allah's remembrance central to our lives.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا رَأَوْا۟ تِجَـٰرَةً أَوْ لَهْوًا ٱنفَضُّوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَتَرَكُوكَ قَآئِمًا ۚ قُلْ مَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهْوِ وَمِنَ ٱلتِّجَـٰرَةِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ
But [on one occasion] when they saw a transaction or a diversion, [O Muḥammad], they rushed to it and left you standing. Say, "What is with Allāh is better than diversion and than a transaction, and Allāh is the best of providers."
يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْمَلِكِ ٱلْقُدُّوسِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ
Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth is exalting Allāh, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
وَلَا يَتَمَنَّوْنَهُۥٓ أَبَدًۢا بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
But they will not wish for it, ever, because of what their hands have put forth. And Allāh is Knowing of the wrongdoers.
وَءَاخَرِينَ مِنْهُمْ لَمَّا يَلْحَقُوا۟ بِهِمْ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
And [to] others of them who have not yet joined them. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.