إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وُدًّا 96
Translations
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina amanu wa amilu al-salihat sayajal lahumu al-rahman wadda
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah promises that those who believe and perform righteous deeds will be granted 'wudd' (love, affection, and acceptance) by Allah the Most Merciful. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this to mean that Allah will place love and honor for the believers in the hearts of His creation, both in this life and the next. This is a divine promise that sincere faith combined with righteous action results in divine favor and the natural love of people.
Revelation Context
Surah Maryam is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when believers faced persecution and doubt. This ayah appears in a section affirming Allah's mercy and the rewards awaiting the righteous, providing comfort and encouragement to the early Muslim community facing hardship. The broader context emphasizes that true faith and good deeds are never wasted in Allah's sight.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'When Allah loves a servant, He calls out to Jibril: "I love so-and-so, so love him." Then Jibril calls out in the heavens: "Allah loves so-and-so, so love him," and the inhabitants of the heavens love him, and he is granted acceptance on earth.' (Sahih Muslim 2637). Additionally, the hadith 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1162) complements this ayah's emphasis on righteousness.
Themes
Key Lesson
True believers should understand that sincere faith paired with consistent righteous action attracts both divine favor and worldly respect; this encourages Muslims to maintain integrity knowing that their efforts are valued by Allah and recognized by creation. In an age of alienation and disconnection, this ayah reminds us that living righteously naturally generates genuine love and acceptance from others.