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
قَالَتْ يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰٓ ءَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا۠ عَجُوزٌ وَهَـٰذَا بَعْلِى شَيْخًا ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عَجِيبٌ
She said, "Woe to me! Shall I give birth while I am an old woman and this, my husband, is an old man? Indeed, this is an amazing thing!"
وَإِنَّ كُلًّا لَّمَّا لَيُوَفِّيَنَّهُمْ رَبُّكَ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
And indeed, each [of the believers and disbelievers] - your Lord will fully compensate them for their deeds. Indeed, He is Aware of what they do.
۞ مَثَلُ ٱلْفَرِيقَيْنِ كَٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْأَصَمِّ وَٱلْبَصِيرِ وَٱلسَّمِيعِ ۚ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
The example of the two parties is like the blind and deaf, and the seeing and hearing. Are they equal in comparison? Then, will you not remember?
وَلَآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِى خَزَآئِنُ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ وَلَآ أَقُولُ إِنِّى مَلَكٌ وَلَآ أَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ تَزْدَرِىٓ أَعْيُنُكُمْ لَن يُؤْتِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ خَيْرًا ۖ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ إِنِّىٓ إِذًا لَّمِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allāh or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel, nor do I say of those upon whom your eyes look down that Allāh will never grant them any good. Allāh is most knowing of what is within their souls. Indeed, I would then be among the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust]."