خِتَـٰمُهُۥ مِسْكٌ ۚ وَفِى ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ ٱلْمُتَنَـٰفِسُونَ 26
Translations
The last of it is musk. So for this let the competitors compete.
Transliteration
Khitaamuhu misk, wa fee dhaalika falyatanafasi al-mutanafisoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the seal (closing fragrance) of the drink given to the righteous in Paradise as musk, the finest and most precious of fragrances. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this represents the ultimate excellence and perfection of the believer's reward, with musk symbolizing something pure, precious, and eternally pleasing. The ayah concludes by exhorting the righteous to compete in good deeds to attain such magnificent rewards, emphasizing that striving for Paradise should be a matter of noble competition among believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the end of Surah Al-Mutaffifin, which was revealed in Mecca during the early Meccan period. The surah condemns those who defraud in business and describes the fate of the wicked versus the rewards of the righteous. This particular verse concludes the description of the Paradise prepared for the pious, serving as motivation for believers to pursue righteousness and compete with one another in good works.
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' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), which relates to the broader theme of competing in virtue. Additionally, Surah Al-Mutaffifin 83:18-28 as a whole echoes the hadith on the Record of Deeds and Paradise rewards found in multiple sahih collections.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that the pursuit of Paradise is not a passive endeavor but rather an active competition (tanadus) in righteousness and virtue—each person striving to surpass themselves and others in obedience to Allah. This ayah reminds us that the reward for such striving is not merely material comfort but eternal, incomparable beauty and pleasure designed by the Most Merciful.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَلُؤْلُؤًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُهُمْ فِيهَا حَرِيرٌ
Indeed, Allāh will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearl, and their garments therein will be silk.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدْخِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ
Indeed, Allāh will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow. Indeed, Allāh does what He intends.
لَـٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ غُرَفٌ مِّن فَوْقِهَا غُرَفٌ مَّبْنِيَّةٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ
But those who have feared their Lord - for them are chambers, above them chambers built high, beneath which rivers flow. [This is] the promise of Allāh. Allāh does not fail in [His] promise.
ٱدْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَـٰمٍ ءَامِنِينَ
[Having been told], "Enter it in peace, safe [and secure]."