وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَنُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۖ لَّهُمْ فِيهَآ أَزْوَٰجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ۖ وَنُدْخِلُهُمْ ظِلًّا ظَلِيلًا 57
Translations
But those who believe and do righteous deeds - We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide forever. For them therein are purified spouses, and We will admit them to deepening shade.
Transliteration
Wa-alladhīna āmanū wa-`amilū aṣ-ṣāliḥāti sa-nudkhiluhum jannātin tajrī min taḥtihā al-anhār khālidīn fīhā abadā; lahum fīhā azwāj muṭahharat wa-nudkhiluhum ẓillan ẓalīlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the reward of the believers who combine faith (īmān) with righteous deeds (amal aṣ-ṣāliḥ), promising them eternal paradise with flowing rivers, pure spouses, and pleasant shade. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse demonstrates the complementary nature of belief and action—neither alone is sufficient for salvation. Al-Qurṭubī notes that the mention of 'pure spouses' (azwāj muṭahharat) highlights the spiritual and physical perfection of all things in paradise, free from the defects and impurities of worldly life.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisā (Medinan), which was revealed to address community matters in Medina. The broader context of this passage discusses the characteristics of believers and contrasts their eternal reward with the punishment of disbelievers, reinforcing Islamic teachings on accountability and divine justice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Paradise has one hundred degrees which Allah has reserved for the mujāhidīn (those who strive in His cause)' (Sahih Bukhari 2790). Additionally, 'Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger, performs prayers, and gives zakāh, will enter paradise' (Sahih Bukhari 1387), reflecting the combination of faith and righteous action emphasized in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that genuine faith must be accompanied by righteous action—the two are inseparable pillars of spiritual success. For modern readers, it serves as motivation to maintain moral integrity and good deeds, knowing that Allah's promise of reward is certain for those who sincerely believe and continuously strive to improve themselves and benefit others.
Related Ayahs
وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا ٱلْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَـٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّا ٱتِّبَاعَ ٱلظَّنِّ ۚ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًۢا
And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of Allāh." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.
إِلَّا طَرِيقَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا
Except the path of Hell; they will abide therein forever. And that, for Allāh, is [always] easy.
وَمَن لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ مِنكُمْ طَوْلًا أَن يَنكِحَ ٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ فَمِن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُم مِّن فَتَيَـٰتِكُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِإِيمَـٰنِكُم ۚ بَعْضُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْضٍ ۚ فَٱنكِحُوهُنَّ بِإِذْنِ أَهْلِهِنَّ وَءَاتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ مُحْصَنَـٰتٍ غَيْرَ مُسَـٰفِحَـٰتٍ وَلَا مُتَّخِذَٰتِ أَخْدَانٍ ۚ فَإِذَآ أُحْصِنَّ فَإِنْ أَتَيْنَ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍ فَعَلَيْهِنَّ نِصْفُ مَا عَلَى ٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتِ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِىَ ٱلْعَنَتَ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَأَن تَصْبِرُوا۟ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And whoever among you cannot [find] the means to marry free, believing women, then [he may marry] from those whom your right hands possess of believing slave girls. And Allāh is most knowing about your faith. You [believers] are of one another. So marry them with the permission of their people and give them their due compensation [i.e., mahr] according to what is acceptable. [They should be] chaste, neither [of] those who commit unlawful intercourse randomly nor those who take [secret] lovers. But once they are sheltered in marriage, if they should commit adultery, then for them is half the punishment for free [unmarried] women. This [allowance] is for him among you who fears affliction [i.e., sin], but to be patient is better for you. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
وَإِن مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِۦ ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا
And there is none from the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in him [i.e., Jesus] before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection he will be against them a witness.