وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ 57
Translations
And the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believed and were fearing Allāh.
Transliteration
Wa-la-ajru al-akhirati khayrun lilladhina amanu wa-kanu yattaqun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that the reward of the Hereafter is far superior to the temporary pleasures of this world for those who believe and practice taqwa (God-consciousness). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse comes at the conclusion of Yusuf's story as a reminder that true success lies not in worldly gains but in divine reward, and that patience in faith—exemplified by Prophet Yusuf—yields eternal benefits incomparably greater than earthly treasures.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes the narrative of Surah Yusuf (12:111), serving as a thematic culmination of the entire story. It reflects the broader Meccan context of reassuring believers facing persecution and worldly hardship that their faith and patience will be rewarded abundantly in the afterlife, contrasting the temporary nature of worldly trials with the permanence of divine reward.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The world compared to the Hereafter is like what one of you puts his finger in the ocean—let him see what returns on his finger' (Sahih Muslim 2858). Additionally, 'The life of this world compared to the Hereafter is like the dipping of one of your fingers in the sea' (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must prioritize eternal reward over temporary worldly gains, maintaining taqwa and steadfastness in faith despite life's challenges. The ayah teaches that true success is measured not by material prosperity but by one's standing with Allah on the Day of Judgment.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَكْثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
And most of the people, although you strive [for it], are not believers.
وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا۟ لَهُۥ سُجَّدًا ۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ هَـٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُءْيَـٰىَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّى حَقًّا ۖ وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِىٓ إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِى مِنَ ٱلسِّجْنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلْبَدْوِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, "O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise.
ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُۥ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ
Then it appeared to them after they had seen the signs that he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] should surely imprison him for a time.
قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُوا۟ بَثِّى وَحُزْنِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
He said, "I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allāh, and I know from Allāh that which you do not know.