إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ 83
Translations
Except, among them, Your chosen servants."
Transliteration
Illa ibadaka minhumu al-mukhlaseen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is Allah's response to Iblis's request for respite until the Day of Judgment, where Allah grants his request but makes an exception for His sincere, devoted servants. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that despite Iblis's misguidance of humanity, Allah's loyal slaves—those who are genuinely devoted to Him—remain protected from his deception and influence. This demonstrates Allah's mercy upon the believers and the ineffectiveness of Satan's schemes against those who maintain sincere faith and obedience.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the dialogue between Allah and Iblis in Surah Sad, where Iblis challenges Allah and requests respite. The broader context involves the account of Iblis's arrogance and his vow to lead humanity astray, showcasing the eternal struggle between guidance and misguidance. This surah, revealed in Mecca, addresses the early Muslims facing rejection and temptation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Verily, Shaytan has lost all hope that he will ever be worshipped in this land of yours, but he will be well pleased with anything short of that, in anything you do that he may regard as a violation of Islamic law.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2817). Additionally, Aisha reported that the Prophet said those with ihsan (excellence/sincerity) are protected from Satan's whispers (referenced in various hadith collections).
Themes
Key Lesson
True believers who maintain sincere devotion to Allah (ikhlas) are protected from Satan's deception and influence, serving as a reminder that spiritual strength lies in genuine commitment to Allah's commands. This encourages Muslims to cultivate sincere faith and constant remembrance of Allah as the ultimate defense against worldly temptations and Satanic whispers.