وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۚ إِنَّمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ 95
Translations
And do not exchange the covenant of Allāh for a small price. Indeed, what is with Allāh is best for you, if only you could know.
Transliteration
Wa lā tashtarū bi-'ahdi -llāhi thaman qalīlā. Innamā 'inda -llāhi huwa khayrun lakum in kuntum ta'lamūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah prohibits believers from exchanging Allah's covenant (which includes His religion, promises, and commandments) for a small or trivial price—whether material gain, worldly status, or personal comfort. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a warning against compromising one's faith, breaking oaths, or betraying Islamic principles for temporary worldly benefits. The ayah assures that what Allah offers (eternal reward, dignity, and true guidance) far surpasses any fleeting material gain.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nahl, which addresses various aspects of divine guidance and moral conduct. The broader thematic context emphasizes covenant-keeping, honesty in dealings, and loyalty to Allah's commands. Some classical commentators relate this to believers who were tempted to abandon Islamic principles during the Meccan period of persecution.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), emphasizing covenant-keeping in relationships. Additionally, 'Whoever breaks a covenant has disbelieved' (related to covenant-breaking) reflects the severity of violating agreements with Allah and others.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should never sacrifice their religious principles, integrity, or divine obligations for temporary material benefits or social pressure, as the eternal reward and divine pleasure from Allah immeasurably surpass any worldly gain. This ayah calls us to recognize that true prosperity lies in faithfulness to Allah's covenant, not in expedient compromises.
Related Ayahs
وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
And to Allāh prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth of creatures, and the angels [as well], and they are not arrogant.
قَدْ مَكَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنْيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَىٰهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Those before them had already plotted, but Allāh came at [i.e., uprooted] their building from the foundations, so the roof fell upon them from above them, and the punishment came to them from where they did not perceive.
۞ وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ مَاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ خَيْرًا ۗ لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۚ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ ۚ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
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 -
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّٱلَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ
Indeed, Allāh is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good.