ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْمُنفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِٱلْأَسْحَارِ 17
Translations
The patient, the true, the obedient, those who spend [in the way of Allāh], and those who seek forgiveness before dawn.
Transliteration
As-sabirin wa-as-sadiqin wa-al-qanitin wa-al-munfiqin wa-al-mustaghfirin bil-ashar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the characteristics of those who will receive forgiveness and a great reward from Allah: the patient ones, the truthful ones, the obedient ones, those who give in charity, and those who seek forgiveness in the early hours of the night. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, these qualities represent the comprehensive righteousness of believers—combining patience in trials, truthfulness in speech and deed, devotion in prayer, generosity in giving, and humility in seeking forgiveness before dawn when supplications are most readily answered.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran (a Medinan surah), which discusses the characteristics of the righteous and those close to Allah. The broader passage (3:15-17) contrasts the temporary pleasures of this world with the eternal rewards prepared for the God-conscious believers, establishing a framework for understanding true piety in the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best prayer is the night prayer' (Sunan Ibn Majah), directly relating to the significance of seeking forgiveness at dawn (al-ashar). Additionally, the Hadith Qudsi states: 'I am as My servant thinks I am, and I am with him when he remembers Me' (Sahih Bukhari), emphasizing the importance of seeking forgiveness and remembrance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that genuine piety is multifaceted, requiring simultaneous cultivation of moral integrity, spiritual discipline, financial generosity, and constant repentance. For modern believers, it emphasizes that spiritual elevation comes through consistent practice of these virtues and especially through dedicating time before dawn for reflection, prayer, and seeking Allah's forgiveness.