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
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allāh and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims."
وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ
And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon, the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.
وَقَالُوا۟ قُلُوبُنَا فِىٓ أَكِنَّةٍ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَآ إِلَيْهِ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِنَا وَقْرٌ وَمِنۢ بَيْنِنَا وَبَيْنِكَ حِجَابٌ فَٱعْمَلْ إِنَّنَا عَـٰمِلُونَ
And they say, "Our hearts are within coverings [i.e., screened] from that to which you invite us, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a partition, so work; indeed, we are working."
سَنُرِيهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلْـَٔافَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness?