وَيَسْتَجِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۚ وَٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ 26
Translations
And He answers [the supplication of] those who have believed and done righteous deeds and increases [for] them from His bounty. But the disbelievers will have a severe punishment.
Transliteration
Wa yastajeebu allatheena amanoo wa amiloo assalihati wa yazeeduhum min fadlihi wa alkafiroona lahum adhaabun shadeed
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah responds to and accepts the supplications of those who believe and perform righteous deeds, and He increases them in His grace and bounty beyond what they ask. Ibn Kathir explains this as Allah's generosity toward the faithful, while Al-Qurtubi notes that righteous actions accompany sincere faith as a prerequisite for answered prayers. In contrast, the disbelievers face severe punishment, establishing the dichotomy between the believers' spiritual elevation and the rejecters' doom.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ash-Shuraa, a Meccan surah focused on divine attributes, consultation, and the contrast between believers and disbelievers. It is thematically connected to the broader Quranic message about Allah's responsiveness to the faithful and serves as encouragement for the early Muslim community facing persecution in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The supplication of a person continues to be granted as long as he does not supplicate for something sinful or for severing the ties of kinship' (Sahih Muslim 2675). Additionally, 'Whoever fears Allah and does righteous deeds will have his difficulties made easy' (Surah At-Talaq 65:4, with supporting hadith traditions in Sahih Bukhari).
Themes
Key Lesson
For believers today, this ayah emphasizes that sincere faith coupled with righteous actions opens the doors to Allah's mercy and answered prayers. It simultaneously serves as a reminder of accountability—that neglecting good deeds weakens one's spiritual standing and connection to Allah's favors.
Related Ayahs
أَوْ يُزَوِّجُهُمْ ذُكْرَانًا وَإِنَـٰثًا ۖ وَيَجْعَلُ مَن يَشَآءُ عَقِيمًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ
Or He makes them [both] males and females, and He renders whom He wills barren. Indeed, He is Knowing and Competent.
وَمَا تَفَرَّقُوٓا۟ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى لَّقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُورِثُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مُرِيبٍ
And they did not become divided until after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord [postponing the penalty] until a specified time, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, those who were granted inheritance of the Scripture after them are, concerning it, in disquieting doubt.
وَمَآ أَصَـٰبَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُوا۟ عَن كَثِيرٍ
And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.
لِّلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ يَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ إِنَـٰثًا وَيَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ٱلذُّكُورَ
To Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He creates what He wills. He gives to whom He wills female [children], and He gives to whom He wills males.