فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ 88
Translations
And if he [i.e., the deceased] was of those brought near [to Allāh],
Transliteration
Fa-amma in kana mina al-muqarrabīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah begins a conditional statement addressing one of the three categories of people on the Day of Judgment: those brought near to Allah (al-muqarrabūn), referring to the righteous believers and the prophets. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah marks the transition to describing the blessed state of those who were close to Allah through their faith and deeds, contrasting with the previous mention of the Day of Judgment's inevitability. The phrase 'if he was among those brought near' sets up the description of their reward in the subsequent ayat.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Waqi'ah is a Meccan surah that comprehensively describes the Day of Judgment and the three categories of souls: the foremost believers (al-sabiqūn), the people of the right hand (ashab al-yamīn), and those brought near to Allah (al-muqarrabūn). This ayah appears in the latter section of the surah where the blessed reward of the righteous is detailed, providing hope and motivation to the early Muslim community facing persecution.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those of the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim describes how those brought near to Allah will be in proximity to Him in Paradise, reflecting this ayah's meaning.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that closeness to Allah in this life through righteous deeds and sincere faith directly determines one's station in the afterlife, encouraging us to prioritize spiritual development and moral excellence in our daily lives.
Related Ayahs
ٱصْلَوْهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
[Enter to] burn therein today for what you used to deny."
وَأُتْبِعُوا۟ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ عَادًا كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْ ۗ أَلَا بُعْدًا لِّعَادٍ قَوْمِ هُودٍ
And they were [therefore] followed in this world with a curse and [as well] on the Day of Resurrection. Unquestionably, ʿAad denied their Lord; then away with ʿAad, the people of Hūd.
إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّمَنْ خَافَ عَذَابَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمٌ مَّجْمُوعٌ لَّهُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَذَٰلِكَ يَوْمٌ مَّشْهُودٌ
Indeed in that is a sign for those who fear the punishment of the Hereafter. That is a Day for which the people will be collected, and that is a Day [which will be] witnessed.
لَن تَنفَعَكُمْ أَرْحَامُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ ۚ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
Never will your relatives or your children benefit you; the Day of Resurrection He will judge between you. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.