وَقِهِمُ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ۚ وَمَن تَقِ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمْتَهُۥ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ 9
Translations
And protect them from the evil consequences [of their deeds]. And he whom You protect from evil consequences that Day - You will have given him mercy. And that is the great attainment."
Transliteration
Wa-qihimu as-sayyiāt wa-man taqi as-sayyiāt yawmaidhin faqad raḥimtahu wa-dhālik huwa al-fawz al-ʿaẓīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the angels' supplication for the believers, asking Allah to protect them from evil deeds in this world and the punishment for sins on the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that whoever is protected from evil deeds on that Day has indeed received Allah's mercy, which constitutes the greatest success. The verse emphasizes that true triumph (al-fawz al-ʿaẓīm) is not material wealth or status, but rather Allah's forgiveness and protection from the consequences of sin.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Ghafir's depiction of the angels' continuous intercession for believers. While there is no specific asbab al-nuzul (occasion of revelation) recorded for this particular verse, it falls within the broader Meccan context of establishing core Islamic doctrine regarding divine mercy, accountability on the Day of Judgment, and the role of the celestial realm in supporting the faithful.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever Allah protects from the evil within himself, Allah will protect him from the evil of others' (a principle found in various hadith collections). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim records: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Ahsan khuluq), relating to protection from spiritual evil.
Themes
Key Lesson
True success in both worlds lies not in worldly gains but in Allah's protection from sin and evil deeds, which requires continuous self-awareness and moral vigilance. Believers should recognize that the angels' supplication for protection reminds us that our spiritual struggle is witnessed and supported by the divine realm, encouraging us to pursue righteousness as the path to ultimate victory.