يُبَشِّرُهُمْ رَبُّهُم بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنْهُ وَرِضْوَٰنٍ وَجَنَّـٰتٍ لَّهُمْ فِيهَا نَعِيمٌ مُّقِيمٌ 21
Translations
Their Lord gives them good tidings of mercy from Him and approval and of gardens for them wherein is enduring pleasure.
Transliteration
Yubashshiruhum rabbuhum bi-rahmatim minhu wa-ridwanin wa-jannatil lahum fiha naAAeemun muqeemun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's glad tidings to the believers, promising them His mercy, pleasure (ridwan), and eternal gardens wherein dwells everlasting bliss. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this verse encapsulates the greatest rewards of Paradise—divine mercy and approval are the highest blessings, surpassing even the physical delights of Jannah, as they signify closeness to Allah Himself.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah At-Tawbah's discussion of the believers who sacrifice for the sake of Allah and His religion. It specifically refers to those who fight in Allah's cause with their wealth and lives, as mentioned in the preceding verses (9:20-21), providing divine motivation and encouragement for such sacrifice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The least reward for the people of Paradise is 80,000 servants and 72 wives, and the space between each of the ribs of one wife is equal to the distance between the east and the west' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith: 'I have prepared for My righteous servants things which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no heart has imagined' (Sahih Bukhari) encapsulates the concept of unimaginable blessings promised here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that the ultimate reward for believers is not merely material comfort, but rather the mercy and approval of Allah—a spiritual state far exceeding worldly desires. For modern readers, it emphasizes that sincere devotion and sacrifice for righteous causes carry profound spiritual significance and divine recognition that transcends temporal worldly gains.
Related Ayahs
لَا يَزَالُ بُنْيَـٰنُهُمُ ٱلَّذِى بَنَوْا۟ رِيبَةً فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَّآ أَن تَقَطَّعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
Their building which they built will not cease to be a [cause of] skepticism in their hearts until their hearts are cut [i.e., stopped]. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَنزَلَ جُنُودًا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَعَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Then Allāh sent down His tranquility upon His Messenger and upon the believers and sent down soldiers [i.e., angels] whom you did not see and punished those who disbelieved. And that is the recompense of the disbelievers.
وَقَالَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ٱبْنُ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَى ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ ٱللَّهِ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُم بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ ۖ يُضَـٰهِـُٔونَ قَوْلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ قَـٰتَلَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ
The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allāh"; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allāh." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before [them]. May Allāh destroy them; how are they deluded?
لَا يَسْتَـْٔذِنُكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ أَن يُجَـٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Those who believe in Allāh and the Last Day would not ask permission of you to be excused from striving [i.e., fighting] with their wealth and their lives. And Allāh is Knowing of those who fear Him.