قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا 9
Translations
He has succeeded who purifies it,
Transliteration
Qad aflaha man zakkaha
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that whoever purifies their soul (nafs) has indeed succeeded and achieved true prosperity in this life and the hereafter. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that tazkiyah (purification) of the soul through obedience to Allah, righteous deeds, and spiritual refinement is the fundamental condition for success, as mentioned in Surah Al-A'la (87:14) where Allah states 'Qad aflaha man tathakkara' (He has succeeded who purifies himself). The ayah serves as a direct conclusion to the preceding verses about the soul's nature and the choice between righteousness and corruption.
Revelation Context
Surah Ash-Shams is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam in Mecca. This ayah concludes a passage discussing the soul's innate nature (fitrah) and its capacity for both piety and corruption, presenting tazkiyah as the decisive factor between success and ruin in the context of spiritual development.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Indeed, in the body is a piece of flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Verily, it is the heart' (Sahih Bukhari 52). Also, 'The best of you are those who have the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3662), emphasizing the importance of purifying and refining one's soul.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that true success is not measured by worldly wealth or status, but by the purification and refinement of our souls through righteous actions and obedience to Allah. Each individual bears responsibility for their own spiritual development, making deliberate efforts toward self-purification essential for achieving lasting prosperity and divine favor.