ٱلَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَنقُضُونَ ٱلْمِيثَـٰقَ 20
Translations
Those who fulfill the covenant of Allāh and do not break the contract,
Transliteration
Alladhīna yūfūna bi-'ahdi Allāhi wa-lā yanqudūna al-mīthāq
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the believers as those who fulfill the covenant with Allah and do not break their pledges or contracts. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as referring to those who honor their promises with Allah—including obedience to His commands and avoidance of His prohibitions—and who maintain integrity in their oaths and agreements with others. This verse emphasizes that fulfilling covenants is a defining characteristic of the righteous and a fundamental principle of Islamic ethics.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ar-Ra'd, a Medinan surah that addresses various aspects of faith and righteousness. It comes within a passage (verses 19-24) that contrasts those who believe and act righteously with those who reject faith, providing guidance to the Muslim community during the formative period in Madinah regarding proper conduct and moral integrity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays it' (Sahih Bukhari 33). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized covenant-keeping: 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should keep his promise' (Sahih Bukhari 2821).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are called to maintain unwavering integrity in all their commitments—whether in their relationship with Allah through obedience or with others through honesty and promise-keeping. In our modern era, this ayah reminds us that trustworthiness and fulfilling our obligations, both spiritual and practical, are not optional but core expressions of Islamic faith.
Related Ayahs
وَقَدْ مَكَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْمَكْرُ جَمِيعًا ۖ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ۗ وَسَيَعْلَمُ ٱلْكُفَّـٰرُ لِمَنْ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ
And those before them had plotted, but to Allāh belongs the plan entirely. He knows what every soul earns, and the disbelievers will know for whom is the final home.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرِيكُمُ ٱلْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنشِئُ ٱلسَّحَابَ ٱلثِّقَالَ
It is He who shows you lightning, [causing] fear and aspiration, and generates the heavy clouds.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُۥ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ وَلَآ أُشْرِكَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُوا۟ وَإِلَيْهِ مَـَٔابِ
And [the believers among] those to whom We have given the [previous] Scripture rejoice at what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], but among the [opposing] factions are those who deny part of it [i.e., the Qur’ān]. Say, "I have only been commanded to worship Allāh and not associate [anything] with Him. To Him I invite, and to Him is my return."
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى مَدَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَأَنْهَـٰرًا ۖ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ جَعَلَ فِيهَا زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۖ يُغْشِى ٱلَّيْلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers; and from all of the fruits He made therein two mates; He causes the night to cover the day. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.