قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ 1
Translations
Certainly will the believers have succeeded:
Transliteration
Qad aflaha al-mu'minun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah of Surah Al-Mu'minun declares that the believers have indeed succeeded and prospered in both this world and the Hereafter. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the word 'aflaha' (succeeded) encompasses spiritual prosperity, divine favor, and ultimate salvation. The surah then elaborates on the characteristics of these successful believers, emphasizing that true success is not material wealth but rather faith, righteous conduct, and devotion to Allah.
Revelation Context
This Meccan surah was revealed during the early Meccan period when Muslims faced persecution and ridicule. The opening affirmation of believers' success served as reassurance to the Muslim community that despite worldly hardships, they were on the path to true victory. The surah's subsequent verses detail the qualities distinguishing genuine believers from non-believers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3662), which relates to the character traits of successful believers outlined in the following verses. Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever seeks the Hereafter, Allah will make him self-sufficient' (Sahih Muslim 2865) reflects the theme of true success mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True success is not measured by material accumulation or worldly status, but by one's faith, moral character, and alignment with divine guidance. Muslims are encouraged to seek success defined by the Quran—drawing near to Allah through prayer, charity, and ethical conduct—rather than being deceived by temporary worldly gains.