وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ وَنَهَى ٱلنَّفْسَ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰ 40
Translations
But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination,
Transliteration
Wa-amma man khafa maqama rabbihi wa-naha an-nafsa 'anil-hawa
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the person who will attain salvation: one who fears standing before Allah on the Day of Judgment and restrains their soul from following desires and whims. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this represents the highest level of piety (taqwa)—not merely avoiding major sins, but actively combating the inclinations of the nafs (ego/self) toward worldly desires. The verse contrasts this righteous person with the transgressor mentioned in the previous ayah, establishing that true success lies in God-consciousness and self-restraint.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nazi'at, a Meccan surah that describes the Day of Judgment and divine punishment for those who reject truth. The broader context (79:37-41) presents two categories of people at the resurrection: those who rebelled against Allah and those who feared His standing. This ayah specifically delineates the characteristics of the successful believers in that momentous day.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The strongest among you is the one who controls his anger' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, 'The best of you are those with the best manners' (Sahih Bukhari), relating to the restraint of the nafs from base desires.
Themes
Key Lesson
True spiritual advancement requires constant vigilance over one's desires and ego, not through harsh suppression but through conscious awareness of standing before Allah. This ayah teaches that worldly success is meaningless without inner transformation—restraint of the soul from harmful desires is the foundation of a righteous life.