وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ۙ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ 9
Translations
Allāh has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds [that] for them there is forgiveness and great reward.
Transliteration
Wa'ada Allahu alladhina amanu wa 'amilū al-sālihāt; lahum maghfirah wa ajrun 'adhīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah has promised those who believe and perform righteous deeds that they will receive forgiveness of their sins and a great reward (Paradise). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this ayah establishes the fundamental principle that faith (īmān) combined with righteous actions ('amal al-sālih) is the pathway to Allah's mercy and eternal bliss. The promise is unconditional and universal—it applies to all believers who pair sincere belief with good deeds.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Ma'idah (the final major surah revealed), which addresses the Muslim community during the consolidation of Islamic law and practice in Medina. It contextualizes the detailed legal rulings preceding it by reminding believers of the ultimate divine promise underlying all Islamic obligations and moral conduct.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who have the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari states that deeds are judged by intentions, emphasizing that righteous actions must be paired with sincere belief to earn Allah's reward.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that genuine faith must manifest in concrete righteous actions—belief and practice are inseparable pillars of a successful spiritual life. It offers believers hope and encouragement: by maintaining sincere belief and pursuing good deeds, they can secure both divine forgiveness in this life and eternal reward in the hereafter.