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
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِى يُبَشِّرُ ٱللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ۗ قُل لَّآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا ٱلْمَوَدَّةَ فِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ ۗ وَمَن يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةً نَّزِدْ لَهُۥ فِيهَا حُسْنًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
It is that of which Allāh gives good tidings to His servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say, [O Muḥammad], "I do not ask you for it [i.e., this message] any payment [but] only good will through [i.e., due to] kinship." And whoever commits a good deed - We will increase for him good therein. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Appreciative.
ٱسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِرَبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ مَا لَكُم مِّن مَّلْجَإٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّكِيرٍ
Respond to your Lord before a Day comes from Allāh of which there is no repelling. No refuge will you have that Day, nor for you will there be any denial.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُحَآجُّونَ فِى ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا ٱسْتُجِيبَ لَهُۥ حُجَّتُهُمْ دَاحِضَةٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ
And those who argue concerning Allāh after He has been responded to - their argument is invalid with their Lord, and upon them is [His] wrath, and for them is a severe punishment.
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.