سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ 24
Translations
"Peace [i.e., security] be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home."
Transliteration
Salaamun alaikum bima sabartum, faniAAma uqba ad-daar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts the greeting of peace that the inhabitants of Paradise will receive from the angels, commending them for their patience in the worldly life. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that 'Assalamu alaikum' (Peace be upon you) is a salutation of honor, while the phrase 'bima sabartum' (because of your patience) indicates that their perseverance through trials was the means by which they earned this noble reward. The ayah affirms that Paradise is the finest and most permanent dwelling, emphasizing that patience in this life yields eternal bliss in the next.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ar-Ra'd's broader discourse on divine signs, faith, and the consequences of one's deeds. The surah, revealed in Madinah, addresses believers during a period of trials and opposition, emphasizing that patience and steadfastness in faith are rewarded abundantly by Allah. This specific ayah appears in a passage describing the rewards of the righteous in the Hereafter.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (SAW) said: 'The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever is patient, has patience; and whoever is angry, then he is angry.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'No fatigue, illness, anxiety, sorrow, hurt, or sadness afflicts a Muslim, even if it were the prick of a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it.' (Sahih Bukhari)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that worldly trials and hardships are not meaningless struggles but rather opportunities to earn divine reward through patience, with Paradise being the ultimate recompense for those who endure. For modern readers, it serves as a profound reminder that perseverance through life's challenges, undertaken with faith in Allah, transforms temporary suffering into eternal honor and peace.