وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُۥ بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱلزَّكَوٰةِ وَكَانَ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ مَرْضِيًّا 55
Translations
And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakāh and was to his Lord pleasing [i.e., accepted by Him].
Transliteration
Wa-kana ya'muru ahlahu bi-as-salati wa-az-zakati wa-kana 'inda Rabbihi mardiyan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Prophet Ismail (Ishmael), describing how he commanded his family to establish prayer (salah) and give alms (zakat), and how he was pleasing to his Lord. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes that true piety involves not only personal worship but also guiding one's household toward righteousness, and that such dedication to Allah's commands earns divine pleasure and approval.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Maryam's section honoring righteous prophets and servants of Allah. It specifically commends Ismail for his role in establishing Islamic practices within his family, reflecting the surah's broader theme of highlighting the virtuous character and deeds of prophets and their commitment to monotheism.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Sahih Bukhari: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), which relates to the theme of a man's responsibility to guide his household in faith. Additionally, various hadiths emphasize the importance of teaching family members salah and zakat as foundational Islamic duties.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true spiritual leadership begins at home—a believer's responsibility extends to guiding their family toward obedience to Allah through prayer and charity. The combination of personal devotion and family guidance demonstrates that nearness to Allah comes not from isolated worship, but from living Islamic values authentically and inspiring others to do the same.
Related Ayahs
أَفَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى كَفَرَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَقَالَ لَأُوتَيَنَّ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا
Then, have you seen he who disbelieved in Our verses and said, "I will surely be given wealth and children [in the next life]"?
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ ءَادَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَٱجْتَبَيْنَآ ۚ إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا ۩
Those were the ones upon whom Allāh bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel [i.e., Jacob], and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping.
وَهُزِّىٓ إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ تُسَـٰقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا
And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.
قَالَ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكَ ۖ سَأَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكَ رَبِّىٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ بِى حَفِيًّا
[Abraham] said, "Peace [i.e., safety] will be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me.