هَـٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍ 32
Translations
[It will be said], "This is what you were promised - for every returner [to Allāh] and keeper [of His covenant].
Transliteration
Hādhā mā tū'adūn li-kulli awwābin hafīz
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares that Paradise is the promise for every penitent servant who turns constantly to Allah in repentance and the one who guards their faith and actions with vigilance. Ibn Kathir explains that 'awwāb' (the oft-returning) refers to those who repeatedly repent and turn back to Allah, while 'hafīz' (the guardian/preserver) denotes those who carefully preserve their religious obligations and protect themselves from sin. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this verse combines two essential qualities for earning Paradise: sincere repentance and steadfast obedience.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Qaf, a Meccan chapter focused on themes of resurrection, accountability, and Paradise. It comes within the context of describing the rewards awaiting the righteous believers in the Hereafter, serving as encouragement for those who earnestly seek Allah's forgiveness and maintain their devotion despite worldly challenges.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who turn to Allah in repentance most frequently' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'The one who guards their prayer guards their faith' (related to the concept of hafīz in multiple collections).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere, continuous repentance combined with vigilant protection of one's religious practice are the keys to Paradise. It offers hope and motivation to strive for spiritual excellence through returning to Allah with humility and maintaining steadfast devotion.
Related Ayahs
وَلَيْسَتِ ٱلتَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّى تُبْتُ ٱلْـَٔـٰنَ وَلَا ٱلَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
But repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "Indeed, I have repented now," or of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment.
ٱلتَّـٰٓئِبُونَ ٱلْعَـٰبِدُونَ ٱلْحَـٰمِدُونَ ٱلسَّـٰٓئِحُونَ ٱلرَّٰكِعُونَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدُونَ ٱلْـَٔامِرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَٱلنَّاهُونَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
[Such believers are] the repentant, the worshippers, the praisers [of Allāh], the travelers [for His cause], those who bow and prostrate [in prayer], those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and those who observe the limits [set by] Allāh. And give good tidings to the believers.
وَلَمَّا سُقِطَ فِىٓ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَرَأَوْا۟ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ ضَلُّوا۟ قَالُوا۟ لَئِن لَّمْ يَرْحَمْنَا رَبُّنَا وَيَغْفِرْ لَنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
And when regret overcame them and they saw that they had gone astray, they said, "If our Lord does not have mercy upon us and forgive us, we will surely be among the losers."
رُدُّوهَا عَلَىَّ ۖ فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًۢا بِٱلسُّوقِ وَٱلْأَعْنَاقِ
[He said], "Return them to me," and set about striking [their] legs and necks.