وَهُدُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّيِّبِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ وَهُدُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ 24
Translations
And they had been guided [in worldly life] to good speech, and they were guided to the path of the Praiseworthy.
Transliteration
Wa hudu ilā aṭ-ṭayyibi min al-qawl wa hudu ilā ṣirāṭ al-ḥamīd
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the believers are guided toward good and wholesome speech and toward the praiseworthy path of Allah. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as referring to the guidance of the righteous—those whose words are pure, truthful, and beneficial, and whose conduct follows the straight path that leads to Allah's praise and approval. The repetition of 'hudu' (guided) emphasizes the completeness of divine guidance encompassing both speech and action.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Hajj, which addresses the pilgrimage and broader themes of divine guidance and the contrast between believers and disbelievers. The verse contextually follows descriptions of righteous servants of Allah (22:23), establishing that true guidance manifests in virtuous speech and righteous conduct that earn divine commendation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'A good word is a charity' (Jāmi' at-Tirmidhī). Additionally, the hadith 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Sunan Ibn Mājah) relates to the guidance toward praiseworthy conduct mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true guidance encompasses both inward spiritual development and outward conduct—purifying one's speech and ensuring actions align with Islamic principles leads to honor in this life and praise from Allah in the Hereafter. Striving to speak truthfully and follow the righteous path is an expression of gratitude for Allah's guidance.