أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ ءَادَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَٱجْتَبَيْنَآ ۚ إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا ۩ 58
Translations
Those were the ones upon whom Allāh bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel [i.e., Jacob], and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping.
Transliteration
Ulāʾika alladhīna anʿama Allāhu ʿalayhim mina an-nabiyyīna min dhurriyyati Ādam wa-mimman hamalnā maʿa Nūḥ wa-min dhurriyyati Ibrāhīm wa-Isrāʾīl wa-mimman hadaynā wa-jtabaynā. Idhā tutlā ʿalayhim āyātu ar-Raḥmān kharrū sujjadan wa-bukiyyā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those prophets and believers whom Allah has blessed—the descendants of Adam through Noah, Abraham, and Israel—whose distinguishing characteristic is their humility and devotion: when they hear the verses of the Merciful (Qur'an), they prostrate in reverence and weep with awe. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this passage contrasts the righteous believers with those who turn away from divine guidance, emphasizing that true servitude to Allah is marked not by arrogance but by humble submission and emotional connection to His words.
Revelation Context
Surah Maryam is a Meccan chapter that emphasizes the stories of righteous prophets and their steadfastness in faith. This particular ayah concludes the discussion of the righteous prophets (Zachariah, John, Jesus, Ishmael, Idris, etc.) by highlighting the common virtue they shared: reverent devotion to Allah's signs. The context serves to encourage the early Muslim community in Mecca to emulate these exemplary figures in their submission and emotional engagement with revelation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of David, and the most beloved fast is the fast of David. He used to sleep half the night and pray a third of it, and sleep a sixth of it; and he used to fast one day and not fast the next day' (Sahih Bukhari). This hadith relates to the theme of devotion and the practice of prostration in worship.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith is demonstrated not through outward pride or mere intellectual assent, but through heartfelt humility, reverent submission, and an emotional response to Allah's guidance that moves one to tears and prostration. Modern believers should cultivate this same quality of khushūʿ (presence of heart and reverence) in their worship and their engagement with the Qur'an, allowing the divine message to penetrate their hearts rather than merely passing through their ears.
Related Ayahs
تِلْكَ ٱلْجَنَّةُ ٱلَّتِى نُورِثُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا مَن كَانَ تَقِيًّا
That is Paradise, which We give as inheritance to those of Our servants who were fearing of Allāh.
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَحْسَنُ أَثَـٰثًا وَرِءْيًا
And how many a generation have We destroyed before them who were better in possessions and [outward] appearance?
وَيَزِيدُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱهْتَدَوْا۟ هُدًى ۗ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ مَّرَدًّا
And Allāh increases those who were guided, in guidance, and the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for recourse.
وَٱذْكُرْ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ إِسْمَـٰعِيلَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ صَادِقَ ٱلْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّا
And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.