يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱبْتَغُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ ٱلْوَسِيلَةَ وَجَـٰهِدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ 35
Translations
O you who have believed, fear Allāh and seek the means [of nearness] to Him and strive in His cause that you may succeed.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu ittaqū allāha wabtaghū ilayhi al-wasīlata wa jāhidū fī sabīlihi la'allakum tuflihūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to fear Allah, seek the means of approach to Him through righteous deeds and obedience, and strive in His way, with the hope of achieving success. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that 'al-wasīlah' (the means of approach) refers to drawing close to Allah through good deeds, knowledge, and sincere worship. The verse emphasizes that success (falāh) in both worlds comes through piety, proper intermediary actions, and jihād (struggle) in Allah's path, which encompasses spiritual struggle against the self and physical defense of the faith.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah during the period of Islamic consolidation, this ayah appears within Surah Al-Ma'idah which addresses legal and social matters of the Muslim community. The context comes after verses discussing lawful food and ritual purification, reflecting the Medinan focus on community ethics and practical religious guidance as the Muslim state was being established.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The closest anyone of you can be to his Lord is when he is in prostration' (Sahih Muslim 482), illustrating seeking closeness to Allah. Also relevant: 'Whoever strives in My way, I will guide him on the path of truth' (Musnad Ahmad), emphasizing the connection between jihād and divine guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
True success requires a multi-faceted approach: cultivating fear of Allah, pursuing closeness to Him through sincere worship and righteous action, and striving earnestly in His cause with dedication and sacrifice. For believers today, this teaches that spiritual growth demands both internal transformation (taqwā) and external effort (jihād) in all lawful endeavors.
Related Ayahs
وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allāh? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers.
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰٓ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۖ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱكْتُبْنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, "Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.
يَهْدِى بِهِ ٱللَّهُ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضْوَٰنَهُۥ سُبُلَ ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِۦ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
By which Allāh guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path.
قَدْ سَأَلَهَا قَوْمٌ مِّن قَبْلِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحُوا۟ بِهَا كَـٰفِرِينَ
A people asked such [questions] before you; then they became thereby disbelievers.