۞ وَسَارِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ 133
Translations
And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden [i.e., Paradise] as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous
Transliteration
Wa-sāri'ū ilā maghfirah min rabbikum wa jannah 'arduhā as-samāwātu wa-al-ard u'iddat lil-muttaqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to hasten toward seeking forgiveness from Allah and striving for Paradise, which is as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared specifically for those who practice taqwa (God-consciousness and piety). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'hastening' (musāra'ah) denotes urgency and earnestness in obedience, repentance, and righteous deeds, while Al-Qurtubi notes that the immense description of Paradise's width is meant to inspire believers with hope and motivation. The ayah reassures Muslims that such a magnificent reward awaits those who maintain taqwa throughout their lives.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan period of Surah Ali 'Imran and is part of a section encouraging believers to compete in good deeds and righteousness. It follows verses emphasizing spending in charity and maintaining patience, reflecting the early Muslim community's need for spiritual encouragement amid the challenges of establishing Islam in Medina.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The Paradise is nearer to any of you than the thong of your shoe, and so is the (Hell) Fire' (Sahih Bukhari 6488). Additionally, 'Whoever hastens to do good deeds, Allah will hasten his reward' (related themes in Sunan Ibn Majah and other collections).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that spiritual success requires active, urgent effort—we must not delay in seeking repentance and performing good deeds, understanding that the reward of Paradise is incomparably vast for those who maintain consciousness of Allah. It reminds modern believers that hope in Allah's mercy should motivate continuous self-improvement and that true competition among people should be in righteousness, not worldly pursuits.
Related Ayahs
۞ فَلَمَّآ أَحَسَّ عِيسَىٰ مِنْهُمُ ٱلْكُفْرَ قَالَ مَنْ أَنصَارِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ ٱلْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ ٱللَّهِ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَٱشْهَدْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ
But when Jesus felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, "Who are my supporters for [the cause of] Allāh?" The disciples said, "We are supporters for Allāh. We have believed in Allāh and testify that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].
مِن قَبْلُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَنزَلَ ٱلْفُرْقَانَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُو ٱنتِقَامٍ
Before, as guidance for the people. And He revealed the Criterion [i.e., the Qur’ān]. Indeed, those who disbelieve in the verses of Allāh will have a severe punishment, and Allāh is Exalted in Might, the Owner of Retribution.
قُلْ صَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ فَٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, "Allāh has told the truth. So follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of the polytheists."
وَلَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَعْدَهُۥٓ إِذْ تَحُسُّونَهُم بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَشِلْتُمْ وَتَنَـٰزَعْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ وَعَصَيْتُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَآ أَرَىٰكُم مَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ مِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۚ ثُمَّ صَرَفَكُمْ عَنْهُمْ لِيَبْتَلِيَكُمْ ۖ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا عَنكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And Allāh had certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you were killing them [i.e., the enemy] by His permission until [the time] when you lost courage and fell to disputing about the order [given by the Prophet (ﷺ)] and disobeyed after He had shown you that which you love. Among you are some who desire this world, and among you are some who desire the Hereafter. Then He turned you back from them [defeated] that He might test you. And He has already forgiven you, and Allāh is the possessor of bounty for the believers.