إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ 11
Translations
Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward.
Transliteration
Illa alladhina sabaru wa 'amilu assalihati ula'ika lahum maghfiratun wa ajrun kabir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents an exception to the preceding statement about human nature's tendency toward haste and impatience—those who exercise patience (sabr) and perform righteous deeds are distinguished with forgiveness and a great reward from Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse teaches that spiritual success comes through the combination of two essential qualities: steadfast patience in obedience and abstinence from sin, coupled with active performance of good deeds. The 'great reward' (ajr kabir) refers to Paradise and Allah's pleasure, indicating that such individuals attain the highest stations in the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
Surah Hud is a Meccan surah revealed during a period of intense persecution of the early Muslim community. This ayah appears within a passage describing human nature's inherent impatience and weakness, providing encouragement to believers undergoing trials. The verse serves as consolation and motivation for the persecuted Muslims in Mecca, assuring them that their patience and righteous deeds will not go unrewarded.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest deed is patience' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also relevant is the hadith: 'There is no better gift given to a person than patience' (Sahih Bukhari 5059), highlighting the supreme value of sabr in Islamic tradition.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that spiritual elevation and divine reward are attained not through wishful thinking but through the disciplined practice of patience in facing trials and continuous engagement in righteous actions. For modern believers, it emphasizes that enduring difficulties with faith and maintaining ethical conduct are the pathways to both worldly peace and eternal success.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰهُودُ مَا جِئْتَنَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِىٓ ءَالِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
They said, "O Hūd, you have not brought us clear evidence, and we are not ones to leave our gods on your say-so. Nor are we believers in you.
لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمُ ٱلْأَخْسَرُونَ
Assuredly, it is they in the Hereafter who will be the greatest losers.
أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّنِى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ
[Through a messenger, saying], "Do not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I am to you from Him a warner and a bringer of good tidings,"
وَلَا تَرْكَنُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ
And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire, and you would not have other than Allāh any protectors; then you would not be helped.