وَٱلَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِينَ 170
Translations
But those who hold fast to the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] and establish prayer - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of the reformers.
Transliteration
Wal-ladhīna yumsikūna bil-kitābi wa-aqāmū as-salāta innā lā nudī'u ajra al-muslihīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah praises those who hold firmly to the Book (Quran) and establish prayer, assuring them that Allah does not waste the reward of those who do righteous deeds. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes that true believers combine knowledge of scripture with righteous action, and Allah's promise is absolute that such efforts will never go unrewarded. Al-Qurtubi notes that 'holding fast to the Book' implies both memorization and implementation of its teachings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-A'raf's discussion of those who follow guidance and those who turn away. It comes after verses describing the fate of those who reject Allah's signs, serving as an encouragement to believers to remain steadfast in their commitment to the Quran and prayer. The broader Meccan context addresses the diversity of human responses to divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, 'The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if they are small' (Sahih Bukhari 6464), relating to the consistent establishment of prayer mentioned in the ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that combining scriptural knowledge with consistent worship and righteous action creates a complete spiritual practice that Allah values and rewards abundantly. For modern readers, it emphasizes that intellectual understanding of Islam must be paired with practical devotion and ethical living to achieve spiritual fulfillment.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهَآ أَهْلَهَا ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ
Said Pharaoh, "You believed in him before I gave you permission. Indeed, this is a conspiracy which you conspired in the city to expel therefrom its people. But you are going to know.
وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ ءَاذَانٌ لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْغَـٰفِلُونَ
And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless.
وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ أَنْ أَفِيضُوا۟ عَلَيْنَا مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ أَوْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And the companions of the Fire will call to the companions of Paradise, "Pour upon us some water or from whatever Allāh has provided you." They will say, "Indeed, Allāh has forbidden them both to the disbelievers
قَالَ فَٱهْبِطْ مِنْهَا فَمَا يَكُونُ لَكَ أَن تَتَكَبَّرَ فِيهَا فَٱخْرُجْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰغِرِينَ
[Allāh] said, "Descend from it [i.e., Paradise], for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out; indeed, you are of the debased."