رَّسُولًا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَيِّنَـٰتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًا يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۖ قَدْ أَحْسَنَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ رِزْقًا 11
Translations
[He sent] a Messenger [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] reciting to you the distinct verses of Allāh that He may bring out those who believe and do righteous deeds from darknesses into the light. And whoever believes in Allāh and does righteousness - He will admit him into gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide therein forever. Allāh will have perfected for him a provision.
Transliteration
Rasūlan yatlū 'alaykum āyāti -llāhi mubayyinātin liyukhreja -lladhīna āmanū wa'amilū -ṣ-ṣāliḥāti mina -ẓ-ẓulumāti ilā -n-nūr. Wa-man yu'min bi -llāhi wa-ya'mal ṣāliḥan yudkhilhu jannātin tajrī min taḥtihā -l-anhār khālidīna fīhā abadā. Qad aḥsana -llāhu lahū rizqā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the role of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a messenger who recites the clear signs of Allah to guide believers from darkness into light through faith and righteous deeds. It emphasizes that those who believe in Allah and perform good works will be rewarded with eternal Paradise with rivers flowing beneath it. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this passage illustrates the dual nature of the Prophet's mission: intellectual guidance through revelation and spiritual transformation through obedience, with Allah's provision being perfect for those who follow this path.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah At-Talaq (Medinan surah) and is part of a passage reassuring believers about Allah's justice and mercy in managing human affairs, including the difficult matter of divorce. The broader context emphasizes that following Allah's signs and doing good deeds leads to spiritual elevation and divine reward.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3461): The Prophet said, 'The best of you are those who have the best manners and character.' Related to the emphasis on righteous deeds (amal ṣāliḥ). Also, Muslim (196): The Prophet described his mission as coming 'as a mercy to the worlds,' echoing the theme of guidance from darkness to light.
Themes
Key Lesson
True belief in Allah must be accompanied by righteous action; faith alone without deeds is incomplete, and this combination leads to both worldly provision and eternal felicity in Paradise. For believers today, this ayah teaches that following the Quranic guidance is not merely intellectual assent but a transformative journey from spiritual darkness to illumination through consistent good conduct.