هَلْ جَزَآءُ ٱلْإِحْسَـٰنِ إِلَّا ٱلْإِحْسَـٰنُ 60
Translations
Is the reward for good [anything] but good?
Transliteration
Hal jazaa'u al-ihsani illa al-ihsan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question affirming that the reward for good deeds (ihsan) is nothing but good in return. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this verse establishes the divine principle of just recompense—Allah rewards those who perform righteous deeds with blessings both in this life and the Hereafter. The verse emphasizes that Allah's justice is perfect; He does not diminish the reward of the righteous but rather multiplies their good deeds.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Rahman is a Medinan chapter that celebrates Allah's bounties and mercy throughout creation. This particular ayah appears in the latter portion of the surah where Allah describes the rewards awaiting the righteous in Paradise. The verse reinforces the surah's overarching theme of divine benevolence and fair recompense.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever does good, it is for his own soul, and whoever does evil, it is against it' (Quran 45:15, thematically related). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet stated that Allah records good deeds as ten times their value, up to seven hundred times.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere good actions are never wasted and will be justly rewarded by Allah, providing comfort and motivation to maintain righteous conduct. It reminds us that our actions have consequences aligned with divine justice, encouraging consistent moral excellence in our daily lives.