إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ وَٱلصَّـٰبِـِٔينَ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ 62
Translations
Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] - those [among them] who believed in Allāh and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina amanu wa alladhina hadu wa al-nasara wa al-sabiina man amana billahi wa al-yawm al-akhir wa amila salihan falahum ajruhum inda rabbihim wa la khawf alaihim wa la hum yahzanun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that believers from all four faith communities mentioned—Muslims, Jews, Christians, and Sabians—who genuinely believe in Allah and the Last Day and perform righteous deeds will receive their reward from their Lord and will experience no fear or sorrow on the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that the condition for salvation is sincere belief in Allah's oneness and the Hereafter combined with righteous action, transcending merely nominal religious affiliation. This ayah was revealed in Medina among a religiously diverse population and reflects the Qur'an's nuanced teaching on how those of other faiths may attain salvation through their sincere faith and good works.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina where Muslims lived alongside Jewish and Christian communities, this ayah responds to debates about the exclusive path to salvation. It establishes that while Islam is the complete religion, those from other Abrahamic faiths who possessed true conviction in monotheism and righteous conduct before the final revelation could still achieve divine reward, reflecting the historical reality of righteous predecessors.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Jarir ibn Abdullah in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) explained that whoever died following a religion other than Islam would not be accepted from them. This appears to qualify or contextualize 2:62, indicating that post-Prophethood, Islam is the required path. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurayrah regarding the 'Saved Sect' discusses those who follow the Prophet's teachings as the path to salvation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah judges people based on their sincere conviction in His oneness and the Hereafter combined with their moral conduct, reminding believers that righteousness transcends outward labels and that accountability before Allah is individual and based on authentic faith coupled with good works. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of introspection regarding the sincerity of their own faith and the consistency of their actions with their beliefs.