۞ وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ مَاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ خَيْرًا ۗ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۚ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ ۚ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ 30
Translations
And it will be said to those who feared Allāh, "What did your Lord send down?" They will say, "[That which is] good." For those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better. And how excellent is the home of the righteous -
Transliteration
Wa qīla lilladhīna ittaqaw mādhā anzala rabbukum qālū khayran lillilladhīna ahsanū fī hādhihi ad-dunyā hasanah wa ladāru al-ākhirah khayrun wa lani'ma dāru al-muttaqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
When the pious believers are asked what their Lord has revealed, they respond with 'goodness' (khayran), affirming the divine revelation without hesitation. The ayah emphasizes that for those who do good in this world, there is goodness in both this life and the next, with the Hereafter being superior. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi note this demonstrates the believer's unwavering faith and the promise of reward in both worlds, establishing the principle that righteousness yields immediate and eternal benefits.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period within Surah An-Nahl, which addresses fundamental Islamic beliefs and the signs of Allah's creation. The context follows a discussion of those who reject Allah's signs, contrasting them with the believers (al-muttaqūn) whose certainty and faith remain steadfast regardless of opposition or skepticism from disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent' (Sahih Bukhari 6018), which relates to the believers' affirmation of divine goodness. Additionally, 'The best among you are those who have the best manners and character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895) relates to doing good (ihsan) in this world.
Themes
Key Lesson
True believers recognize Allah's revelation as inherently good and maintain unwavering confidence in His guidance, knowing that righteous conduct yields blessings in both this life and the eternal afterlife. This ayah teaches that faith combined with good deeds creates a complete spiritual victory that transcends worldly concerns.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَآئِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِىَ بِإِذْنِهِۦ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ
And it is not for any human being that Allāh should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a partition or that He sends a messenger [i.e., angel] to reveal, by His permission, what He wills. Indeed, He is Most High and Wise.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا ۚ مَا كُنتَ تَدْرِى مَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ وَلَا ٱلْإِيمَـٰنُ وَلَـٰكِن جَعَلْنَـٰهُ نُورًا نَّهْدِى بِهِۦ مَن نَّشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِىٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command [i.e., the Qur’ān]. You did not know what is the Book or [what is] faith, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, [O Muḥammad], you guide to a straight path -
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
And We certainly gave Moses the Scripture that perhaps they would be guided.
كَذَٰلِكَ يُوحِىٓ إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Thus has He revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and to those before you - Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.