۞ 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
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ نَصِيبًا مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَىٰ كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّىٰ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ وَهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
Do you not consider, [O Muḥammad], those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They are invited to the Scripture of Allāh that it should arbitrate between them; then a party of them turns away, and they are refusing.
بَلِ ٱللَّهُ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلنَّـٰصِرِينَ
But Allāh is your protector, and He is the best of helpers.
وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
And whoever desires other than Islām as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.
۞ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
They receive good tidings of favor from Allāh and bounty and [of the fact] that Allāh does not allow the reward of believers to be lost -