وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ 57
Translations
And the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believed and were fearing Allāh.
Transliteration
Wa-la-ajru al-akhirati khayrun lilladhina amanu wa-kanu yattaqun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that the reward of the Hereafter is far superior to the temporary pleasures of this world for those who believe and practice taqwa (God-consciousness). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse comes at the conclusion of Yusuf's story as a reminder that true success lies not in worldly gains but in divine reward, and that patience in faith—exemplified by Prophet Yusuf—yields eternal benefits incomparably greater than earthly treasures.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes the narrative of Surah Yusuf (12:111), serving as a thematic culmination of the entire story. It reflects the broader Meccan context of reassuring believers facing persecution and worldly hardship that their faith and patience will be rewarded abundantly in the afterlife, contrasting the temporary nature of worldly trials with the permanence of divine reward.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The world compared to the Hereafter is like what one of you puts his finger in the ocean—let him see what returns on his finger' (Sahih Muslim 2858). Additionally, 'The life of this world compared to the Hereafter is like the dipping of one of your fingers in the sea' (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must prioritize eternal reward over temporary worldly gains, maintaining taqwa and steadfastness in faith despite life's challenges. The ayah teaches that true success is measured not by material prosperity but by one's standing with Allah on the Day of Judgment.
Related Ayahs
إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِى سَـٰجِدِينَ
[Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."
وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ يَشَآءُ ۚ نُصِيبُ بِرَحْمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And thus We established Joseph in the land to settle therein wherever he willed. We touch with Our mercy whom We will, and We do not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.
قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ أَن نَّأْخُذَ إِلَّا مَن وَجَدْنَا مَتَـٰعَنَا عِندَهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّظَـٰلِمُونَ
He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allāh [to prevent] that we take except him with whom we found our possession. Indeed, we would then be unjust."
يَـٰبَنِىَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allāh. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allāh except the disbelieving people."