قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَٱلْعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ 128
Translations
Said Moses to his people, "Seek help through Allāh and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allāh. He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous."
Transliteration
Qala Musa liqawmihi istaAAinu billahi waisbru inna al-arda lillahi yawrithuhamma yashau min ibadihi wa-al-AAqibatu lilmuttaqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Musa (Moses) exhorts his people to seek help from Allah and exercise patience, reminding them that the earth belongs to Allah alone and He grants it to whomever He wills from His servants, while the ultimate good outcome belongs to the pious. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse teaches reliance upon Allah during trials and confirms that worldly possession is temporary and conditional upon taqwa (piety), not upon one's desires or plans. The verse establishes a causal relationship: patience and seeking Allah's aid lead to ultimate success (al-AAqibah), which is reserved exclusively for the God-conscious.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Musa and the Children of Israel facing persecution from Pharaoh. The context is Musa encouraging his oppressed people during their trials in Egypt before the miraculous parting of the sea. The broader surah addresses themes of divine guidance, rejection of prophets, and the inevitable triumph of the righteous despite worldly hardship.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Strange are the ways of the believer. For him every matter is good. This is not the case with anyone else. If prosperity befalls him, he gives thanks to Allah, and thus it is good for him. If adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently, and thus it is good for him' (Sahih Muslim 2999). Additionally, the concept of relying on Allah while taking action is exemplified in the hadith: 'Trust in Allah, but tie your camel' (Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
In times of hardship and oppression, true strength comes not from material power but from combining active effort (seeking Allah's help) with patient endurance, trusting that Allah ultimately grants victory and inheritance of this world and the next to those who maintain piety and God-consciousness. This teaches believers that worldly setbacks are temporary and that sincere reliance on Allah with righteous conduct guarantees ultimate triumph.