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
ذَٰلِكَ لِيَعْلَمَ أَنِّى لَمْ أَخُنْهُ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى كَيْدَ ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ
That is so he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] will know that I did not betray him in [his] absence and that Allāh does not guide the plan of betrayers.
وَمَا تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And you do not ask of them for it any payment. It is not except a reminder to the worlds.
قَالَ إِنِّى لَيَحْزُنُنِىٓ أَن تَذْهَبُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَأَخَافُ أَن يَأْكُلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ وَأَنتُمْ عَنْهُ غَـٰفِلُونَ
[Jacob] said, "Indeed, it saddens me that you should take him, and I fear that a wolf would eat him while you are of him unaware."
قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِۦٓ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِى رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنِّى تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
He said, "You will not receive food that is provided to you except that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in Allāh, and they, in the Hereafter, are disbelievers.