وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ 8
Translations
And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive
Transliteration
Wa-alladhīna hum li-amānātihim wa-'ahdihim rā'ūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the believers as those who are vigilant and faithful custodians of their trusts (amānāt) and covenants ('ahd). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, amānāt encompasses both religious obligations entrusted by Allah and interpersonal trusts between people, while 'ahd refers to promises and agreements. The verb rā'ūn (they guard/observe) emphasizes active protection and fulfillment of these sacred responsibilities, indicating that true believers are characterized by their unwavering commitment to honoring what has been entrusted to them.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Mu'minun, which is a Meccan surah that comprehensively describes the characteristics of true believers. This particular ayah is part of a passage (verses 1-11) that enumerates the essential qualities of the believers, serving as a moral framework for the Muslim community during the early Meccan period when the faith faced opposition.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever is not trustworthy has no faith, and whoever does not fulfill his covenant has no religion' (Musnad Ahmad). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized that betrayal of trusts is among the signs of hypocrisy: 'The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays the trust' (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
For contemporary Muslims, this ayah teaches that integrity and reliability in all dealings—whether financial, professional, or personal—are fundamental markers of true faith. Honoring commitments to both Allah and people reflects a Muslim's spiritual maturity and is essential for building a just, functioning society.