إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ 11
Translations
Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward.
Transliteration
Illa alladhina sabaru wa 'amilu assalihati ula'ika lahum maghfiratun wa ajrun kabir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents an exception to the preceding statement about human nature's tendency toward haste and impatience—those who exercise patience (sabr) and perform righteous deeds are distinguished with forgiveness and a great reward from Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse teaches that spiritual success comes through the combination of two essential qualities: steadfast patience in obedience and abstinence from sin, coupled with active performance of good deeds. The 'great reward' (ajr kabir) refers to Paradise and Allah's pleasure, indicating that such individuals attain the highest stations in the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
Surah Hud is a Meccan surah revealed during a period of intense persecution of the early Muslim community. This ayah appears within a passage describing human nature's inherent impatience and weakness, providing encouragement to believers undergoing trials. The verse serves as consolation and motivation for the persecuted Muslims in Mecca, assuring them that their patience and righteous deeds will not go unrewarded.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest deed is patience' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also relevant is the hadith: 'There is no better gift given to a person than patience' (Sahih Bukhari 5059), highlighting the supreme value of sabr in Islamic tradition.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that spiritual elevation and divine reward are attained not through wishful thinking but through the disciplined practice of patience in facing trials and continuous engagement in righteous actions. For modern believers, it emphasizes that enduring difficulties with faith and maintaining ethical conduct are the pathways to both worldly peace and eternal success.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ سَـَٔاوِىٓ إِلَىٰ جَبَلٍ يَعْصِمُنِى مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ ۚ قَالَ لَا عَاصِمَ ٱلْيَوْمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ۚ وَحَالَ بَيْنَهُمَا ٱلْمَوْجُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُغْرَقِينَ
[But] he said, "I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water." [Noah] said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allāh, except for whom He gives mercy." And the waves came between them, and he was among the drowned.
فَلَوْلَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ أُو۟لُوا۟ بَقِيَّةٍ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْفَسَادِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّنْ أَنجَيْنَا مِنْهُمْ ۗ وَٱتَّبَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مَآ أُتْرِفُوا۟ فِيهِ وَكَانُوا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ
So why were there not among the generations before you those of enduring discrimination forbidding corruption on earth - except a few of those We saved from among them? But those who wronged pursued what luxury they were given therein, and they were criminals.
أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّنِى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ
[Through a messenger, saying], "Do not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I am to you from Him a warner and a bringer of good tidings,"
إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّٰهٌ مُّنِيبٌ
Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, grieving and [frequently] returning [to Allāh].