إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلصَّـٰبِـُٔونَ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ 69
Translations
Indeed, those who have believed [in Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] and those [before him (ﷺ)] who were Jews or Sabeans or Christians - those [among them] who believed in Allāh and the Last Day and did righteousness - no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina amanu wa-alladhina hadu wa-al-sabieun wa-al-nasara man amana billahi wa-al-yawmi al-akhiri wa-amila salihan fala khawfun alayhim wa-la hum yahzanun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that believers (Muslims), Jews (al-Yahud), Sabians, and Christians who truly believe in Allah and the Last Day while performing righteous deeds shall have no fear nor grief. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as addressing the condition of sincere faith and righteous action as the criteria for salvation, not merely nominal religious affiliation. The ayah emphasizes that those from other faith communities who meet these conditions—belief in Allah's oneness and the Day of Judgment combined with virtuous deeds—are assured of divine mercy, though Islamic scholars note this must be understood within the context that the final message is Islam (5:3) and acceptance of Prophet Muhammad is required after his mission.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader Medinan discussion about the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and their relationship with the Muslim community. It comes in the context of addressing interfaith relations and clarifying that righteous conduct and true faith are the measures of divine acceptance, regardless of one's religious community affiliation.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Jibril (in Sahih Muslim) wherein Prophet Muhammad defines Islam, Iman (faith), and Ihsan (excellence in conduct) relates to the conditions mentioned in this ayah. Additionally, the Prophet's statement in Sahih Muslim regarding the saved groups and Paradise emphasizes that righteous deeds combined with true belief determine one's ultimate fate.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to recognize that true success in the Hereafter depends on sincere faith in God and righteous actions, encouraging both humility about judgment and compassion toward people of other faiths who demonstrate genuine piety. It reminds us that God's mercy encompasses those who truly believe and act righteously, fostering a balanced perspective on interfaith relations grounded in virtue rather than mere labels.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّمَا جَزَٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن يُقَتَّلُوٓا۟ أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوٓا۟ أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ أَوْ يُنفَوْا۟ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لَهُمْ خِزْىٌ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allāh and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment,
وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَٱحْذَرُوا۟ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا عَلَىٰ رَسُولِنَا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
And obey Allāh and obey the Messenger and beware. And if you turn away - then know that upon Our Messenger is only [the responsibility for] clear notification.
ٱلْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتُ ۖ وَطَعَامُ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ حِلٌّ لَّكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَّهُمْ ۖ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَـٰفِحِينَ وَلَا مُتَّخِذِىٓ أَخْدَانٍ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُۥ وَهُوَ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.
إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ ۖ وَإِن تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."