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
لَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى مَوَاطِنَ كَثِيرَةٍ ۙ وَيَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ ۙ إِذْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ كَثْرَتُكُمْ فَلَمْ تُغْنِ عَنكُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ ثُمَّ وَلَّيْتُم مُّدْبِرِينَ
Allāh has already given you victory in many regions and [even] on the day of Ḥunayn, when your great number pleased you, but it did not avail you at all, and the earth was confining for you with [i.e., in spite of] its vastness; then you turned back, fleeing.
إِنَّمَا ٱلنَّسِىٓءُ زِيَادَةٌ فِى ٱلْكُفْرِ ۖ يُضَلُّ بِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُحِلُّونَهُۥ عَامًا وَيُحَرِّمُونَهُۥ عَامًا لِّيُوَاطِـُٔوا۟ عِدَّةَ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ فَيُحِلُّوا۟ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ زُيِّنَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ أَعْمَـٰلِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Indeed, the postponing [of restriction within sacred months] is an increase in disbelief by which those who have disbelieved are led [further] astray. They make it lawful one year and unlawful another year to correspond to the number made unlawful by Allāh and [thus] make lawful what Allāh has made unlawful. Made pleasing to them is the evil of their deeds; and Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people.
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَىٰهُمْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ
Did they not know that Allāh knows their secrets and their private conversations and that Allāh is the Knower of the unseen?
وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ نَّظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ هَلْ يَرَىٰكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ ثُمَّ ٱنصَرَفُوا۟ ۚ صَرَفَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُم بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ
And whenever a sūrah is revealed, they look at each other, [as if saying], "Does anyone see you?" and then they dismiss themselves. Allāh has dismissed their hearts because they are a people who do not understand.