تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ 13
Translations
These are the limits [set by] Allāh, and whoever obeys Allāh and His Messenger will be admitted by Him to gardens [in Paradise] under which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the great attainment.
Transliteration
Tilka hudūdu -llāhi wa man yuṭi' -allāha wa rasūlahu yudkhilhu jannātin tajrī min taḥtihā -l-anhāru khālidīna fīhā wa dhālike -l-fawzu -l-'aẓīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the rulings on inheritance by emphasizing that the laws of inheritance (and all divine commandments) are boundaries set by Allah, and adherence to them is essential. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger in these matters will enter gardens of Paradise with rivers flowing beneath them, dwelling eternally therein—this is the supreme success. The verse underscores that obedience to divine law, particularly in matters of family and inheritance, is a direct path to eternal reward.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears at the conclusion of Surah An-Nisa's detailed inheritance laws (verses 11-12), which were revealed in Medina to establish justice in the distribution of wealth among heirs. The verse reinforces that these specific legal rulings are divinely ordained boundaries (hudūd) that must be observed, contextualizing the inheritance verses within the broader framework of Quranic law and obedience.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (7099): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever obeys me obeys Allah, and whoever disobeys me disobeys Allah.' This hadith directly relates to the condition of obeying Allah and His Messenger mentioned in the ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Adherence to Allah's laws and boundaries, especially in sensitive matters like inheritance and family rights, is not restrictive but liberating—it leads to true success both in this life and the eternal reward of Paradise. For modern believers, this emphasizes that obedience to Islamic law should be viewed as a path to divine pleasure and ultimate success, rather than mere obligation.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرْكِ ٱلْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا
Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire - and never will you find for them a helper -
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتْلِهِمُ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ ۚ بَلْ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
And [We cursed them] for their breaking of the covenant and their disbelief in the signs of Allāh and their killing of the prophets without right and their saying, "Our hearts are wrapped" [i.e., sealed against reception]. Rather, Allāh has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ جَآءُوكَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا
And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allāh. And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muḥammad], and asked forgiveness of Allāh and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allāh Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.
وَإِذًا لَّـَٔاتَيْنَـٰهُم مِّن لَّدُنَّآ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
And then We would have given them from Us a great reward.