أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنْهُمْ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ وَعْدَ ٱلصِّدْقِ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ 16
Translations
Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised.
Transliteration
Ulā'ika alladhīna nataqqabbalu 'anhum ahsana mā 'amilū wa natajavāzu 'an sayyi'ātihim fī ashābi al-jannati wa'da al-sidqi alladhī kānū yu'adūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who will be admitted to Paradise, stating that Allah will accept from them their best deeds while pardoning their sins. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this refers to the believers whose good deeds outweigh their shortcomings, and it emphasizes Allah's mercy in accepting the best of their works and overlooking their faults entirely. The ayah concludes that this is the true promise—the promise of truthfulness—that they were being promised throughout their lives.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ahqaf is a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists and believers during the early Islamic period. This particular ayah contextualizes the reward of Paradise within the broader discussion of those who believe and do righteous deeds, contrasting them with those who reject the message. It serves as encouragement for the believers facing persecution in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'No one enters Paradise except by Allah's mercy.' When asked even the Prophet, he replied: 'Even I, unless Allah envelops me in His mercy.' (Sahih Bukhari 3321). Additionally, the hadith about the seven categories of people shaded on the Day of Judgment (Sahih Bukhari 629) relates to how Allah accepts the deeds of the righteous.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah offers profound comfort to believers: Allah does not judge us solely on our mistakes, but accepts our best efforts and overlooks our shortcomings through His infinite mercy. Modern readers should be encouraged that sincere effort in righteousness, coupled with repentance, is sufficient—perfection is not the standard, but rather striving with a sincere heart.
Related Ayahs
۞ نَبِّئْ عِبَادِىٓ أَنِّىٓ أَنَا ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
[O Muḥammad], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful,
وَإِذْ قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱسْكُنُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةَ وَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ وَقُولُوا۟ حِطَّةٌ وَٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْبَابَ سُجَّدًا نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطِيٓـَٔـٰتِكُمْ ۚ سَنَزِيدُ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when it was said to them, "Dwell in this city [i.e., Jerusalem] and eat from it wherever you will and say, 'Relieve us of our burdens [i.e., sins],' and enter the gate bowing humbly; We will [then] forgive you your sins. We will increase the doers of good [in goodness and reward]."
أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
So will they not repent to Allāh and seek His forgiveness? And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلضُّعَفَآءِ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرْضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ مَا عَلَى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ مِن سَبِيلٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
There is not upon the weak or upon the ill or upon those who do not find anything to spend any discomfort [i.e., guilt] when they are sincere to Allāh and His Messenger. There is not upon the doers of good any cause [for blame]. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.