لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ 38
Translations
That Allāh may reward them [according to] the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty. And Allāh gives provision to whom He wills without account [i.e., limit].
Transliteration
Liyajziyahumu Allah ahsana ma amiloo wa yaziduhum min fadlihi wa Allah yarzuqu man yasha'u bighayri hisab
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah promises that Allah will reward the righteous with the best of their deeds and grant them additional bounty from His grace beyond what they deserve. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as referring to those who give charity and perform good deeds with sincere intention, emphasizing that Allah's reward transcends human calculation—He multiplies good deeds manifold and adds from His infinite mercy. Al-Qurtubi notes that 'without reckoning' (bighayri hisab) indicates Allah's generosity knows no bounds and surpasses all limitation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nur's discussion of charity and righteous conduct. It follows verses about those who give in charity and maintain their obligations, providing divine assurance of reward. The broader thematic context emphasizes that sincere charitable giving and virtuous deeds receive divine recognition and multiplication in return.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever gives charity equal to a date from lawful earnings—and Allah accepts only the lawful—Allah takes it in His right hand and nurtures it for its owner as one of you nurtures his foal, until it becomes like a mountain.' (Sahih Bukhari 1410). Also related: 'The best charity is when you give while you are in need.' (At-Tirmidhi)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that righteous deeds and charitable giving are investments with Allah that yield returns far exceeding their material value in this life and the next. The assurance of Allah's reward without limit should motivate consistent virtue and generosity, knowing that sincerity in action matters more than quantity, as Allah's recompense transcends human calculation.