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.