وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَـٰفِظُونَ 29
Translations
And those who guard their private parts
Transliteration
Wa alladhīna hum li furūjihim hāfizūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who guard their private parts (chastity and sexual honor) as among the righteous servants of Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this guardianship includes abstaining from illicit sexual relations and maintaining modesty, whether in actions or thoughts. This quality is presented as a characteristic of the successful believers (al-mufliḥūn) who will inherit Paradise.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Ma'arij, a Meccan chapter that describes the Day of Judgment and the qualities of the righteous. The surah outlines various characteristics of successful believers, and this ayah is part of that comprehensive description of pious conduct. The context emphasizes spiritual and moral excellence during the early Meccan period when believers faced persecution.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Modesty (al-ḥayā') is part of faith' (Sahih Bukhari 24). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized guarding the tongue and private parts as essential to entering Paradise: 'Whoever guarantees me the chastity of what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, I guarantee him Paradise' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2407).
Themes
Key Lesson
Guarding one's private parts is not merely a physical act but a comprehensive commitment to moral and spiritual purity that reflects one's dedication to Allah's commands. This ayah reminds believers that true success lies in controlling desires and maintaining integrity, which has profound implications for personal character development and social morality.