وَمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُم بِٱلَّتِى تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا زُلْفَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَزَآءُ ٱلضِّعْفِ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَهُمْ فِى ٱلْغُرُفَـٰتِ ءَامِنُونَ 37
Translations
And it is not your wealth or your children that bring you nearer to Us in position, but it is [by being] one who has believed and done righteousness. For them there will be the double reward for what they did, and they will be in the upper chambers [of Paradise], safe [and secure].
Transliteration
Wa mā amwālukum wa lā awlādukum bil-latī tuqarribukum 'indanā zulfā illā man āmana wa 'amila sālihan fa-ulā'ika lahum jazā'u ad-di'fi bimā 'amilū wa hum fil-ghurfāti āminūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refutes the materialistic values of the Quraysh who believed wealth and children granted them honor and closeness to Allah. The verse emphasizes that only faith (īmān) coupled with righteous deeds ('amal sālih) brings one near to Allah, while worldly possessions are spiritually worthless. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, those who combine belief with righteous actions will receive a multiplied reward and dwell securely in the elevated chambers of Paradise (al-ghurfāt).
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Saba, a Meccan surah revealed during a period when the pagan Arabs of Mecca were arrogant about their wealth and offspring. The context addresses the Meccan elite who rejected the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) despite their material prosperity, failing to recognize that true success lies in spiritual nearness to Allah rather than worldly abundance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Wealth and children are the adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46). Additionally, a hadith in Sahih Muslim emphasizes that deeds are judged by intentions, highlighting that sincere faith must accompany righteous actions to be accepted.
Themes
Key Lesson
True success and closeness to Allah depend not on accumulating wealth or having many children, but on genuine faith paired with consistent righteous action. This teaches believers to prioritize spiritual development and moral conduct over the pursuit of material status, recognizing that only our deeds of faith will ultimately benefit us in the Hereafter.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ بَلْ مَكْرُ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَآ أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادًا ۚ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَغْلَـٰلَ فِىٓ أَعْنَاقِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Those who were oppressed will say to those who were arrogant, "Rather, [it was your] conspiracy of night and day when you were ordering us to disbelieve in Allāh and attribute to Him equals." But they will [all] confide regret when they see the punishment; and We will put shackles on the necks of those who disbelieved. Will they be recompensed except for what they used to do?
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and to Him belongs [all] praise in the Hereafter. And He is the Wise, the Aware.
قُل لَّا تُسْـَٔلُونَ عَمَّآ أَجْرَمْنَا وَلَا نُسْـَٔلُ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Say, "You will not be asked about what we committed, and we will not be asked about what you do."
قُلْ جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَمَا يُبْدِئُ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ وَمَا يُعِيدُ
Say, "The truth has come, and falsehood can neither begin [anything] nor repeat [it]."