ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَهُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّاعَةِ مُشْفِقُونَ 49
Translations
Who fear their Lord unseen, while they are of the Hour apprehensive.
Transliteration
Alladhina yakhshawna rabbahum bil-ghaybi wa-hum min as-sa'ati mushfiqun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the characteristics of the righteous believers who fear Allah unseen (without witnessing punishment directly) and are apprehensive about the Day of Judgment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, 'fear in the unseen' (khashyah bil-ghayb) refers to those who maintain piety and consciousness of Allah even when no one is watching them, demonstrating sincere devotion. Their fear of the Hour (as-sa'ah) combined with their hidden reverence shows a comprehensive spiritual awareness that motivates righteous behavior both privately and publicly.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Anbiya, a Meccan surah that emphasizes the oneness of Allah, the reality of the Day of Judgment, and the characteristics of believers. The verse is part of a passage describing the attributes of the pious (21:49-50), serving as a call to the Meccans to develop genuine God-consciousness rather than mere outward compliance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best among you are those who have the best manners and character' (Sahih Bukhari 3331), reflecting the internal state of those who fear Allah in the unseen. Additionally, 'Whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him from every difficulty' (Sunan Ibn Majah 4289) relates to the protection granted to those with true consciousness of Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True spirituality is cultivated through sincere reverence for Allah when no one is observing—our private conduct reveals our genuine faith more than our public actions. Maintaining constant awareness of the Day of Judgment should motivate us to uphold moral and ethical standards consistently, transforming our character from within rather than merely performing rituals.