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
وَلَمَّا بَرَزُوا۟ لِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And when they went forth to [face] Goliath and his soldiers, they said, "Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people."
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ
And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, "We are but reformers."
۞ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍ مَّعْدُودَٰتٍ ۚ فَمَن تَعَجَّلَ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ لِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
And remember Allāh during [specific] numbered days. Then whoever hastens [his departure] in two days - there is no sin upon him; and whoever delays [until the third] - there is no sin upon him - for him who fears Allāh. And fear Allāh and know that unto Him you will be gathered.
مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍ مِّا۟ئَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَـٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allāh is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allāh multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.