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
وَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ لَمِنكُمْ وَمَا هُم مِّنكُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَفْرَقُونَ
And they swear by Allāh that they are from among you while they are not from among you; but they are a people who are afraid.
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ ۚ قُلْ أَبِٱللَّهِ وَءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَرَسُولِهِۦ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allāh and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?"
ٱنفِرُوا۟ خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَـٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allāh. That is better for you, if you only knew.
لَّقَد تَّابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ فِى سَاعَةِ ٱلْعُسْرَةِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Allāh has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhājireen and the Anṣār who followed him in the hour of difficulty after the hearts of a party of them had almost inclined [to doubt], and then He forgave them. Indeed, He was to them Kind and Merciful.