وَنَجَّيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ 18
Translations
And We saved those who believed and used to fear Allāh.
Transliteration
Wa najjayna alladhina amanu wa kanu yattaqun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah saves and delivers those who believe and practice taqwa (God-consciousness). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that true belief must be accompanied by righteous action and fear of Allah—mere verbal profession is insufficient. The verse assures believers of divine protection and salvation as a reward for their faith and piety.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Fussilat (a Meccan surah), within a passage describing the Day of Judgment and the fates of believers versus disbelievers. It contextualizes the broader theme of the surah: that the Quran details and explains divine truths, and those who accept and practice upon it will be saved, while those who reject it face destruction.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Taqwa is here' (pointing to the heart) three times (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2409). Additionally, 'The most perfect of believers in faith are the best of them in character' (Sunan Abu Dawud 4682), reflecting the integration of belief and righteous conduct.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are reminded that salvation is not achieved through faith alone, but through the combination of sincere belief and conscious obedience to Allah's commands. This encourages continuous self-examination and spiritual vigilance, reassuring the faithful that their efforts to maintain piety will result in Allah's protection and ultimate deliverance.
Related Ayahs
وَذَٰلِكُمْ ظَنُّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى ظَنَنتُم بِرَبِّكُمْ أَرْدَىٰكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
And that was your assumption which you assumed about your Lord. It has brought you to ruin, and you have become among the losers."
وَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيْنَـٰهُمْ فَٱسْتَحَبُّوا۟ ٱلْعَمَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ صَـٰعِقَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
And as for Thamūd, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance, so the thunderbolt of humiliating punishment seized them for what they used to earn.
أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّن لِّقَآءِ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّحِيطٌۢ
Unquestionably, they are in doubt about the meeting with their Lord. Unquestionably He is, of all things, encompassing.
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِ ٱلَّيْلُ وَٱلنَّهَارُ وَٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ ۚ لَا تَسْجُدُوا۟ لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allāh, who created them, if it should be Him that you worship.