وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى تَحْتَهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ 100
Translations
And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhājireen and the Anṣār and those who followed them with good conduct - Allāh is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.
Transliteration
Was-sabiqun al-awwalun min al-muhajirin wa-al-ansar wa-alladhina ittaba'uhum bi-ihsan rada Allah 'anhum wa-raddu 'anhu wa-a'adda lahum jannatin tajri tachtaha al-anhar khalideen fiha abada. Dhalik al-fawz al-adheem.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah honors the forerunners (as-sabiqun al-awwalun)—the earliest believers among the Muhajirin (emigrants) and Ansar (helpers of Madinah)—and those who followed them with excellence (ihsan). Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, for which He has prepared gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they shall dwell eternally. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse establishes a hierarchical merit among the Sahabah based on their precedence in accepting Islam and their sincere service, with particular honor given to those at Badr and other major early events.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah during the later period of the Prophet's life, this ayah is situated within Surah At-Tawbah's broader discussion of the sincere believers versus hypocrites. The context addresses the various groups within the Muslim community and their standings with Allah, establishing that genuine faith and righteous action are the measures of worth.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best of people is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them' (Sahih Bukhari 3651). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized the merit of the early Muhajirin and Ansar in numerous contexts, particularly regarding those who participated in early battles like Badr (Sahih Muslim 2311).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true honor in the sight of Allah comes not from wealth or status, but from sincere faith and righteous action, regardless of when one embraces Islam. Modern believers are encouraged to emulate the dedication and ihsan (excellence) of these early Muslims, recognizing that following the straight path with wholehearted commitment is what earns Allah's eternal favor.
Related Ayahs
فَسِيحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِى ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْزِى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
So travel freely, [O disbelievers], throughout the land [during] four months but know that you cannot cause failure to Allāh and that Allāh will disgrace the disbelievers.
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ سَيُؤْتِينَا ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ رَٰغِبُونَ
If only they had been satisfied with what Allāh and His Messenger gave them and said, "Sufficient for us is Allāh; Allāh will give us of His bounty, and [so will] His Messenger; indeed, we are desirous toward Allāh," [it would have been better for them].
۞ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ عَـٰهَدَ ٱللَّهَ لَئِنْ ءَاتَىٰنَا مِن فَضْلِهِۦ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And among them are those who made a covenant with Allāh, [saying], "If He should give us from His bounty, we will surely spend in charity, and we will surely be among the righteous."
فَأَعْقَبَهُمْ نِفَاقًا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يَلْقَوْنَهُۥ بِمَآ أَخْلَفُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ
So He penalized them with hypocrisy in their hearts until the Day they will meet Him - because they failed Allāh in what they promised Him and because they [habitually] used to lie.