لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 45
Translations
That He may reward those who have believed and done righteous deeds out of His bounty. Indeed, He does not like the disbelievers.
Transliteration
Liyajziya alladhina amanu wa 'amilu assalihati min fadlihi, innahu la yuhibbu alkafirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that Allah will reward the believers who have faith and perform righteous deeds from His infinite grace and bounty. The phrase 'min fadlihi' (from His favor) emphasizes that reward is fundamentally an act of Allah's generosity rather than something earned by human effort alone, while the concluding statement about Allah's dislike of disbelievers serves as a warning and contrast. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this ayah encapsulates the fundamental principle of divine justice and mercy—that belief coupled with good works forms the pathway to Allah's reward.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Rum is a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists and those who rejected faith. This ayah appears near the surah's conclusion and summarizes the main theme of the surah: the certainty of the Day of Judgment and divine justice. It comes as an assurance to believers amid persecution and a warning to disbelievers, reinforcing that ultimate victory and reward belong to those who believe and act righteously.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'No one enters Paradise by his deeds alone.' When asked, 'Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?' he replied, 'Not even I, unless Allah covers me with His mercy.' (Sahih Bukhari 5673). This hadith reinforces the ayah's emphasis on divine grace (fadl) as the foundation of reward.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that success in the afterlife requires both sincere faith and righteous action, yet ultimately depends on Allah's mercy and grace rather than human effort alone—fostering both motivation to do good works and humility before Allah's generosity. For modern readers, it emphasizes that spiritual growth is a partnership between human striving and divine favor, eliminating both despair and spiritual arrogance.