وَيَسْتَجِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۚ وَٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ 26
Translations
And He answers [the supplication of] those who have believed and done righteous deeds and increases [for] them from His bounty. But the disbelievers will have a severe punishment.
Transliteration
Wa yastajeebu allatheena amanoo wa amiloo assalihati wa yazeeduhum min fadlihi wa alkafiroona lahum adhaabun shadeed
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah responds to and accepts the supplications of those who believe and perform righteous deeds, and He increases them in His grace and bounty beyond what they ask. Ibn Kathir explains this as Allah's generosity toward the faithful, while Al-Qurtubi notes that righteous actions accompany sincere faith as a prerequisite for answered prayers. In contrast, the disbelievers face severe punishment, establishing the dichotomy between the believers' spiritual elevation and the rejecters' doom.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ash-Shuraa, a Meccan surah focused on divine attributes, consultation, and the contrast between believers and disbelievers. It is thematically connected to the broader Quranic message about Allah's responsiveness to the faithful and serves as encouragement for the early Muslim community facing persecution in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The supplication of a person continues to be granted as long as he does not supplicate for something sinful or for severing the ties of kinship' (Sahih Muslim 2675). Additionally, 'Whoever fears Allah and does righteous deeds will have his difficulties made easy' (Surah At-Talaq 65:4, with supporting hadith traditions in Sahih Bukhari).
Themes
Key Lesson
For believers today, this ayah emphasizes that sincere faith coupled with righteous actions opens the doors to Allah's mercy and answered prayers. It simultaneously serves as a reminder of accountability—that neglecting good deeds weakens one's spiritual standing and connection to Allah's favors.
Related Ayahs
أَوْ يُوبِقْهُنَّ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ وَيَعْفُ عَن كَثِيرٍ
Or He could destroy them for what they earned; but He pardons much.
فَاطِرُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ أَزْوَٰجًا ۖ يَذْرَؤُكُمْ فِيهِ ۚ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِۦ شَىْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
[He is] Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِن شَىْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبِّى عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ
And in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allāh. [Say], "That is Allāh, my Lord; upon Him I have relied, and to Him I turn back."
۞ وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَآئِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِىَ بِإِذْنِهِۦ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ
And it is not for any human being that Allāh should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a partition or that He sends a messenger [i.e., angel] to reveal, by His permission, what He wills. Indeed, He is Most High and Wise.