وَٱلَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦٓ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوٓءَ ٱلْحِسَابِ 21
Translations
And those who join that which Allāh has ordered to be joined and fear their Lord and are afraid of the evil of [their] account,
Transliteration
Wa alladhina yasiluna ma amara Allahu bihi an yusal wa yakhshawna rabbahum wa yakhafuna su'a al-hisab
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who maintain the bonds that Allah has commanded to be maintained—primarily kinship ties and family relationships—while maintaining consciousness of their Lord and fearing the severity of the divine reckoning. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that 'maintaining what Allah commanded to be maintained' (silat al-rahim) refers especially to honoring family ties and fulfilling rights of kinship, which is a fundamental Islamic principle. These righteous people combine their obedience with taqwa (God-consciousness) and awareness of accountability before Allah on the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ar-Ra'd, a Medinan surah that addresses the believers regarding righteous conduct and the consequences of actions. The context within the surah discusses attributes of the righteous who believe in Allah's signs, and this particular ayah is part of a passage describing the qualities of those who will attain success. It emphasizes practical righteousness alongside spiritual awareness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The one who severs ties of kinship will not enter Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Additionally, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi) directly relates to the concept of maintaining family bonds mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must balance familial duties with spiritual consciousness—maintaining strong family bonds while remembering that all actions are observed by Allah and will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment. This teaches that true piety is demonstrated through tangible acts of mercy and compassion toward loved ones, coupled with constant awareness of divine accountability.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ
Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allāh. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allāh hearts are assured."
أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌۢ بِقَدَرِهَا فَٱحْتَمَلَ ٱلسَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَّابِيًا ۚ وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلنَّارِ ٱبْتِغَآءَ حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَـٰعٍ زَبَدٌ مِّثْلُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَٱلْبَـٰطِلَ ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَآءً ۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ
He sends down from the sky, rain, and valleys flow according to their capacity, and the torrent carries a rising foam. And from that [ore] which they heat in the fire, desiring adornments and utensils, is a foam like it. Thus Allāh presents [the example of] truth and falsehood. As for the foam, it vanishes, [being] cast off; but as for that which benefits the people, it remains on the earth. Thus does Allāh present examples.
سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ
"Peace [i.e., security] be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home."
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَـَٔابٍ
Those who have believed and done righteous deeds - a good state is theirs and a good return.