۞ قُلْ أَؤُنَبِّئُكُم بِخَيْرٍ مِّن ذَٰلِكُمْ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـٰتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَأَزْوَٰجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ 15
Translations
Say, "Shall I inform you of [something] better than that? For those who fear Allāh will be gardens in the presence of their Lord beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and purified spouses and approval from Allāh. And Allāh is Seeing [i.e., aware] of [His] servants -
Transliteration
Qul a'unnabbikum bikhayrin min dhaalikum. Lilladhina ittaqaw 'inda rabbihim jannatun tajree min tahtiha al-anharu khalideen feeha wa azwajun mutahharatun wa ridwanun min Allah. Wallahu baseerun bil-'ibad.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to ask the Quraysh if he should inform them of something better than the worldly pleasures they pursue—namely, Paradise for the God-fearing with gardens beneath which rivers flow, pure companions, and above all, the pleasure and approval of Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this ayah contrasts the temporary delights of this world with the eternal rewards of the Hereafter, emphasizing that true excellence lies in piety (taqwa) and divine contentment (ridwan).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of the believers' qualities and their rewards. It comes after verses mentioning the characteristics of the righteous, serving as a rhetorical question inviting the disbelievers to consider the superiority of the eternal rewards awaiting the pious over their worldly attachments.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Paradise is nearer to any of you than the thong of his sandal, and so is the Fire.' (Sahih Bukhari). Also relevant: 'Whoever gives priority to the Hereafter over this world, Allah will grant him contentment in his heart.' (Tirmidhi, related themes).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to reorient their priorities from transient worldly gains toward eternal spiritual rewards, reminding us that true success is measured by Allah's approval and the promise of Paradise, not by temporary material possessions. The emphasis on 'azwaj mutahharatun (pure companions) and ridwan (divine contentment) teaches that the greatest reward in Paradise transcends physical pleasures—it is closeness to and satisfaction from the Divine Presence.
Related Ayahs
فَـَٔاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَحُسْنَ ثَوَابِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
So Allāh gave them the reward of this world and the good reward of the Hereafter. And Allāh loves the doers of good.
إِنَّمَا ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَآءَهُۥ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
That is only Satan who frightens [you] of his supporters. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers.
۞ 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].
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ ءَامَنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۚ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allāh. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient.