مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ ثَوَابُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًا 134
Translations
Whoever desires the reward of this world - then with Allāh is the reward of this world and the Hereafter. And ever is Allāh Hearing and Seeing.
Transliteration
Man kāna yurīdu thawāba ad-dunyā fa'inda Allāhi thawābu ad-dunyā wa-al-ākhirah. Wa-kāna Allāhu samī'an baṣīrā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah teaches that whoever seeks the reward of this world alone should know that with Allah exists the reward of both this world and the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as an encouragement to orient one's intentions toward pleasing Allah, as doing so yields blessings in both realms, whereas seeking worldly gain alone forfeits eternal reward. The concluding phrase emphasizes that Allah is All-Hearing and All-Seeing of intentions, stressing that sincere motivation matters greatly.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nisa's discussion of social obligations, charity, and righteous conduct. It follows injunctions about spending and good deeds, reminding believers that their intentions determine their spiritual standing. The broader thematic context of this section addresses the proper motivation for charitable and virtuous acts.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: 'Actions are according to intentions, and every person will have what they intended' (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim). Also relevant: 'Whoever performs a deed seeking Allah's pleasure and the Hereafter, Allah will grant him goodness in both worlds' (a principle supported throughout aḥādīth on intention).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should purify their intentions, seeking to please Allah rather than pursuing worldly gains alone; doing so paradoxically secures blessings in this life while guaranteeing eternal reward. This ayah invites reflection on whether our deeds are motivated by divine pleasure or material benefit.
Related Ayahs
فَقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفْسَكَ ۚ وَحَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلًا
So fight, [O Muḥammad], in the cause of Allāh; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers [to join you] that perhaps Allāh will restrain the [military] might of those who disbelieve. And Allāh is greater in might and stronger in [exemplary] punishment.
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلًا
And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allāh while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allāh took Abraham as an intimate friend.
دَرَجَـٰتٍ مِّنْهُ وَمَغْفِرَةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
Degrees [of high position] from Him and forgiveness and mercy. And Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يُفَرِّقُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَّخِذُوا۟ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا
Indeed, those who disbelieve in Allāh and His messengers and wish to discriminate between Allāh and His messengers and say, "We believe in some and disbelieve in others," and wish to adopt a way in between -