مَن جَآءَ بِٱلْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُۥ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهَا وَهُم مِّن فَزَعٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ ءَامِنُونَ 89
Translations
Whoever comes [at Judgement] with a good deed will have better than it, and they, from the terror of that Day, will be safe.
Transliteration
Man jaa'a bil-hasanati falahu khayrun minhu wa hum min fazaAAin yawma'idhin aminu n
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah promises that whoever comes with good deeds will receive a reward better than the deed itself, and they will be secure from fear on the Day of Judgment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the 'hasanah' (good deed) refers to righteous actions performed in this life, and Allah's reward is immeasurably greater than the deed itself, reflecting His infinite generosity. The second part assures believers that those who perform good deeds will be among the secure and fearless on the Day of Judgment, a day of great terror for the disbelievers.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Naml, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes divine wisdom and accountability. It comes in a section discussing the consequences of deeds and the ultimate justice of Allah on the Day of Judgment, encouraging believers to perform righteous actions despite the trials of life.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever performs a good deed will receive ten times its reward' (Sahih Muslim 2687). Additionally, 'Actions are but by intentions' (Sahih Bukhari 1) emphasizes the importance of sincere deeds, which aligns with the promise of reward in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah encourages believers to perform good deeds with the assurance that Allah's reward far exceeds the effort expended, and that righteousness provides spiritual security and peace even in the face of the feared Day of Judgment. For modern readers, it teaches that sincere good actions, no matter how small, are never wasted and carry eternal value in Allah's sight.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ عِفْرِيتٌ مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ أَنَا۠ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن تَقُومَ مِن مَّقَامِكَ ۖ وَإِنِّى عَلَيْهِ لَقَوِىٌّ أَمِينٌ
A powerful one from among the jinn said, "I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this [task] strong and trustworthy."
أَمَّن يَهْدِيكُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَمَن يُرْسِلُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ بُشْرًۢا بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَحْمَتِهِۦٓ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ تَعَـٰلَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Is He [not best] who guides you through the darknesses of the land and sea and who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy? Is there a deity with Allāh? High is Allāh above whatever they associate with Him.
وَقُلِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ سَيُرِيكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ فَتَعْرِفُونَهَا ۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And say, "[All] praise is [due] to Allāh. He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do."
وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ فَوْجًا مِّمَّن يُكَذِّبُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ
And [warn of] the Day when We will gather from every nation a company of those who deny Our signs, and they will be [driven] in rows