ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ 3
Translations
Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them,
Transliteration
Alladhīna yu'minūna bil-ghaybi wa yuqīmūna as-salāta wa mimmā razaqnāhum yunfiqūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the characteristics of the God-fearing believers (al-muttaqūn) mentioned in the preceding ayah: they believe in the unseen (the existence of Allah, the Hereafter, and divine revelation without sensory proof), establish the prayer with consistency and devotion, and spend from the provision Allah has granted them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that these three qualities—faith in the unseen, proper prayer, and charitable spending—represent the comprehensive framework of Islamic practice, encompassing belief ('aqīdah), worship ('ibādah), and social responsibility (mu'āmalāt).
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah (the second surah, revealed in Madinah), which immediately follows the ayah describing those who are heedless. These verses establish the foundational characteristics of righteous believers as a contrast to those who reject faith, setting the spiritual and ethical tone for the remainder of the surah and the broader Quranic message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of people are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day' (Sahih Bukhari 3461). Additionally, the hadith 'Wealth and children are adornments of this life, but eternal good deeds are better' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46, with related hadiths in At-Tirmidhi) emphasizes the spiritual priority of righteous deeds over material possessions.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith is not merely intellectual assent but manifests through consistent worship and practical compassion toward others; believers demonstrate their sincerity to Allah by maintaining discipline in prayer and generously sharing their blessings, recognizing that all provision comes from the Divine. This ayah teaches that spiritual conviction and moral action are inseparable pillars of a meaningful Islamic life.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱعْتَدَوْا۟ مِنكُمْ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا۟ قِرَدَةً خَـٰسِـِٔينَ
And you had already known about those who transgressed among you concerning the sabbath, and We said to them, "Be apes, despised."
وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِى وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِى عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And from wherever you go out [for prayer], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Ḥarām. And wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it in order that the people will not have any argument against you, except for those of them who commit wrong; so fear them not but fear Me. And [it is] so I may complete My favor upon you and that you may be guided,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْقِصَاصُ فِى ٱلْقَتْلَى ۖ ٱلْحُرُّ بِٱلْحُرِّ وَٱلْعَبْدُ بِٱلْعَبْدِ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰ بِٱلْأُنثَىٰ ۚ فَمَنْ عُفِىَ لَهُۥ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَىْءٌ فَٱتِّبَاعٌۢ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَدَآءٌ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۗ فَمَنِ ٱعْتَدَىٰ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَهُۥ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
O you who have believed, prescribed for you is legal retribution for those murdered - the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But whoever overlooks from his brother [i.e., the killer] anything, then there should be a suitable follow-up and payment to him [i.e., the deceased's heir or legal representative] with good conduct. This is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy. But whoever transgresses after that will have a painful punishment.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ فِى ٱلسِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
O you who have believed, enter into Islām completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.