يَـٰٓأَيَّتُهَا ٱلنَّفْسُ ٱلْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ 27
Translations
[To the righteous it will be said], "O reassured soul,
Transliteration
Ya ayyatuha an-nafsu al-mutmaina
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the soul that has attained peace and tranquility through faith and obedience to Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this refers to the soul that has achieved spiritual contentment, having purified itself from doubt, fear, and inner turmoil through submission to Allah's will. The verse marks a transition in Surah Al-Fajr, moving from warnings to the wrongdoers to an address of reassurance and honor for the believers whose souls have found true peace.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the concluding verses of Surah Al-Fajr (a Meccan surah), which contrasts the fates of those who reject faith with those who believe. The surah emphasizes divine punishment for the arrogant and comfort for the righteous. This particular ayah addresses the believers directly, offering consolation after the preceding verses that describe the Day of Judgment and the destruction of previous nations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Sahih Bukhari 3331), relating to the development of the tranquil soul. Additionally, 'Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest' (Quran 13:28) is thematically aligned with the concept of the satisfied soul (an-nafsu al-mutmaina).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true peace comes not from worldly pursuits but from aligning one's soul with faith in Allah and obedience to His commands. For modern readers, it is a reminder that inner tranquility and psychological well-being are achieved through spiritual development and consciousness of the Divine rather than material accumulation.