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
لَقَدْ وُعِدْنَا هَـٰذَا نَحْنُ وَءَابَآؤُنَا مِن قَبْلُ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
We have been promised this, we and our forefathers, before. This is not but legends of the former peoples."
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَءِذَا كُنَّا تُرَٰبًا وَءَابَآؤُنَآ أَئِنَّا لَمُخْرَجُونَ
And those who disbelieve say, "When we have become dust as well as our forefathers, will we indeed be brought out [of the graves]?
أَلَّا يَسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى يُخْرِجُ ٱلْخَبْءَ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُخْفُونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
[And] so they do not prostrate to Allāh, who brings forth what is hidden within the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare -
وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَـٰنُ دَاوُۥدَ ۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنطِقَ ٱلطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلْفَضْلُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
And Solomon inherited David. He said, "O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is evident bounty."