وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ رَءُوفٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ 207
Translations
And of the people is he who sells himself, seeking means to the approval of Allāh. And Allāh is Kind to [His] servants.
Transliteration
Wa mina an-nasi man yarshi nafsahu ibtighaa mardati Allah, wa-Allah raoof bil-ibad
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those exceptional believers who sacrifice their lives and souls in pursuit of Allah's pleasure, exemplifying the highest form of devotion and selflessness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as referring to those who dedicate themselves entirely to Allah's cause, whether through martyrdom, sincere service, or complete submission. The ayah concludes by emphasizing Allah's compassion and mercy toward His servants, assuring believers that such sacrifice is recognized and rewarded by the Most Merciful.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the early Medinan period within Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of various types of people and their relationship with faith. It comes in a section contrasting different responses to divine guidance, highlighting those who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to Allah's will amid a diverse community of believers.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Khuzaimah ibn Thabit (reported in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) exemplifies this ayah—he sold his properties and gave all proceeds in charity for Allah's sake. Additionally, the general hadith about the best deeds (Sahih Bukhari) emphasizes sincere intention and complete devotion to Allah's pleasure as the foundation of righteous action.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith demands complete dedication and willingness to sacrifice personal desires for Allah's pleasure, yet believers should take solace knowing that Allah's mercy encompasses all sincere servants. This ayah teaches that the measure of faith is not merely external actions, but the degree to which one's heart and soul are surrendered to the Divine will.