إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِى يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ 109
Translations
Indeed, there was a party of My servants who said, 'Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and You are the best of the merciful.'
Transliteration
Innahu kana fariqun min ibadi ya quluna rabbana amanna faghfir lana wairhimna wa anta khayru al-rahimeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes a group of Allah's servants who possessed true faith (iman) and humbly beseeched their Lord for forgiveness and mercy, acknowledging that Allah is the Best of the Merciful. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse illustrates the characteristics of the true believers—those who combine faith with supplication and recognition of Allah's supreme attributes. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this du'a encapsulates the essence of sincere worship: belief followed by earnest repentance and reliance on Allah's mercy.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Mu'minun, which describes the characteristics and ultimate triumph of the believers. The verse is part of a passage (23:109-111) where the believers intercede for one another on the Day of Judgment, demonstrating their collective righteousness and mutual concern, reflecting the cohesive nature of the believing community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best supplication is 'Alhamdulillah' (All praise is due to Allah), and the best remembrance is 'La ilaha illallah' (There is no deity except Allah).' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim emphasizes that sincere faith combined with repentance and mercy is the path to salvation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true faith must be accompanied by conscious humility, sincere repentance, and earnest supplication to Allah. It reminds us that recognizing Allah's boundless mercy and seeking His forgiveness is not a sign of weakness but the mark of genuine servitude and spiritual maturity.
Related Ayahs
لَعَلِّىٓ أَعْمَلُ صَـٰلِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ ۚ كَلَّآ ۚ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَآئِلُهَا ۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِم بَرْزَخٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind." No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.
ثُمَّ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتْرَا ۖ كُلَّ مَا جَآءَ أُمَّةً رَّسُولُهَا كَذَّبُوهُ ۚ فَأَتْبَعْنَا بَعْضَهُم بَعْضًا وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ ۚ فَبُعْدًا لِّقَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation its messenger, they denied him, so We made them follow one another [to destruction], and We made them narrations. So away with a people who do not believe.
فَتَقَطَّعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَهُم بَيْنَهُمْ زُبُرًا ۖ كُلُّ حِزْبٍۭ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ
But they [i.e., the people] divided their religion among them into portions [i.e., sects] - each faction, in what it has, rejoicing.
فَأَنشَأْنَا لَكُم بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتٍ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَـٰبٍ لَّكُمْ فِيهَا فَوَٰكِهُ كَثِيرَةٌ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
And We brought forth for you thereby gardens of palm trees and grapevines in which for you are abundant fruits and from which you eat.