إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ 277
Translations
Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakāh will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina amanu wa 'amilu al-salihat wa aqamu al-salata wa ataw al-zakah lahum ajruhum 'inda rabbihim wa la khawf 'alayhim wa la hum yahzanun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the characteristics of the righteous believers: those who have faith, perform good deeds, establish prayer, and pay zakah (almsgiving). According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this ayah assures such believers of their reward from Allah on the Day of Judgment, and promises them freedom from fear and sorrow—a reference to the peace and security of the believers in the Hereafter. The ayah emphasizes that these four qualities (iman, good works, salah, and zakah) are the foundations of a righteous life that leads to Allah's pleasure and reward.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan portion of Surah Al-Baqarah, which was revealed after the Prophet's migration to Medina. It follows the discussion of riba (usury) and emphasizes the contrast between those who engage in unlawful transactions and those who uphold faith and righteous deeds, reinforcing the moral framework of the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of deeds are: belief in Allah, then jihad in His cause, then an accepted Hajj.' (Sunan Ibn Majah) Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever pays zakah on his wealth, its evil has been removed from him' (Tirmidhi) relates directly to the zakah mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true success lies not merely in having faith, but in manifesting it through consistent good actions, regular prayer, and financial charity. For modern Muslims, it is a reminder that authentic belief must be accompanied by practical commitment to Islamic obligations and societal responsibility.