لَـٰكِنِ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتُ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ 88
Translations
But the Messenger and those who believed with him fought with their wealth and their lives. Those will have [all that is] good and it is those who are the successful.
Transliteration
Lākinir-rasūlu wa-lladhīna āmanū ma'ahū jāhadū bi-amwālihim wa-anfusihim. Wa-ulā'ika lahumu al-khayerātu wa-ulā'ika humu al-muflihūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contrasts those who made excuses from jihad with the Prophet Muhammad and the believers who strived with their wealth and lives in the cause of Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes that true success (falāh) and goodness belong exclusively to those who sacrifice their material possessions and themselves for Allah's cause, highlighting that jihad is not merely physical warfare but a comprehensive commitment of one's resources and self.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah (revealed in the 9th year of Hijrah), which addresses the hypocrites and those who made excuses during the Tabuk expedition. The context involves those who sought permission not to participate in the military campaign, while the sincere believers and the Prophet prepared to defend Islam, making this verse a direct rebuke to half-hearted faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best jihad is a word of truth spoken in the face of a tyrant' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Whoever dies without having fought in jihad or having intended to fight, dies upon a branch of hypocrisy' (Sahih Muslim) relates to the theme of sincere striving.
Themes
Key Lesson
True success in this life and the hereafter comes through wholehearted commitment to Allah's cause, requiring both material sacrifice and personal dedication. This teaches modern Muslims that faith is demonstrated through tangible action and sacrifice, whether through financial support, time, effort, or standing for truth, not merely through words or nominal belief.
Related Ayahs
يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَرْضَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
They swear to you so that you might be satisfied with them. But if you should be satisfied with them - indeed, Allāh is not satisfied with a defiantly disobedient people.
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].
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ ءَابَآءَكُمْ وَإِخْوَٰنَكُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ إِنِ ٱسْتَحَبُّوا۟ ٱلْكُفْرَ عَلَى ٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
O you who have believed, do not take your fathers or your brothers as allies if they have preferred disbelief over belief. And whoever does so among you - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.
فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
But when He gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused.