يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱصْبِرُوا۟ وَصَابِرُوا۟ وَرَابِطُوا۟ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ 200
Translations
O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allāh that you may be successful.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu isbiroo wa sabiru wa rabitu wa ittaquu Allah laallakum tuflihhoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, concluding Surah Ali 'Imran, commands believers to practice patience (sabr), encourage one another in patience, maintain vigilance and steadfastness (murābitah) in the path of Allah, and fear Allah—promising that such conduct leads to success (falāh). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a comprehensive call to spiritual discipline: sabr refers to endurance in trials, sabiru (mutual encouragement) emphasizes communal support, and rābitū encompasses guarding the faith and remaining firm at the frontiers of belief and action. The ayah encapsulates the spiritual-ethical framework necessary for believers to achieve ultimate success in this life and the next.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears at the conclusion of Surah Ali 'Imran, which was revealed in Medina. The surah addresses the early Muslim community facing external threats and internal trials, particularly after the Battle of Uhud (mentioned in 3:121-180). This final ayah serves as a concluding exhortation to the believers, synthesizing the surah's themes of faith, steadfastness, and moral accountability in the face of adversity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "The greatest of deeds is patience (al-sabr)." (Sunan Ibn Majah 4259). Additionally, regarding rābitah (vigilance), the Prophet said: "Whoever remains vigilant at the frontier in the way of Allah for one day and night is better than a month of fasting and prayer." (Sahih Muslim 1888)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true success comes not from external victory alone, but from internal cultivation of patience, mutual encouragement in faith, and conscious devotion to Allah. In modern contexts, it reminds Muslims that navigating life's challenges requires both personal spiritual discipline and communal solidarity—a timeless formula for achieving spiritual and moral flourishing.