Divine caution for those who prefer worldly pleasures over lasting spiritual rewards (Al Qur'an)

God created this earth for humans to live as per the guidelines contained in the Divine Scriptures that were sent from time to time on chosen prophets. In fact this earthly life is a test to see who abides by the restrictions imposed on man to strictly follow a life so Divinely desired, and also to see who disobey and live a life as they feel like living.

According to the Quran, life in this world is a trust from Allah and should be lived with faith, gratitude, integrity, and compassion. Believers are encouraged to worship Allah sincerely, seek lawful sustenance through honest effort, uphold justice, fulfill their responsibilities toward family and society, care for those in need, and act with kindness and humility. The Quran does not call for abandoning worldly life; rather, it teaches that worldly blessings should be enjoyed responsibly without allowing them to distract from remembrance of Allah or preparation for the Hereafter. A balanced life—one that combines spiritual devotion with ethical conduct, productive work, and service to others—is presented as the ideal way to fulfill the purpose of human existence and attain success in both this life and the next.

Surah Al-A'la, the 87th Surah / chapter of Qur'an dedicate its major portion towards how this life is to be lived. Before we give out a complete set of verses that become a passage on the same theme, let us first share the 16th verse:

The verse reads: "But you prefer the life of this world." (Quran 87:16, Sahih International)

It is immediately followed by 87:17: "While the Hereafter is better and more enduring."

One of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi explains these two verses by noting:

That is, "O man, all your thoughts and endeavors are only for the world, its ease and comforts, its benefits and enjoyments. You regard whatever you gain here as the real gain and whatever you lose here as your real loss" 

The Hereafter is preferable to the world for two reasons: first, that its comforts and pleasures are far superior to all the blessings of the world; second, that the world is transitory and the Hereafter everlasting. 

These two verses set the framework on how to live the life in this world in a way that would set the course for life in the Hereafter.

Context

Although, no specific event is related to the revelations of the above quoted verses, but these along with verse 14-15 and 18-90 for the concluding section of the surah for the guidance of the man:

87:14: "He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself,"

87:15: "And mentions the name of his Lord and prays."

87:16: "But you prefer the life of this world,"

87:17: "While the Hereafter is better and more enduring."

87:18–19: The message is said to be consistent with the earlier scriptures of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Musa.

The flow of the passage contrasts the path to success (spiritual purification, remembrance of God, and prayer) with the human tendency to prioritize immediate worldly pleasures over lasting spiritual rewards.

Why was it revealed?

Classical Islamic sources generally do not report a specific occasion of revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl) for verse 87:16. Instead, it is understood as a general moral teaching, not a response to one particular incident.

Early commentators such as Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that these verse addresses a common human inclination: choosing immediate worldly benefits over the lasting good of the Hereafter. It serves as both a warning and an invitation to reassess one's priorities.

Are the 16-17 verses relevant today?

Many believers continue to find the verse relevant because the tension it describes remains familiar. Examples include:

• Prioritizing wealth, status, or entertainment while neglecting spiritual or ethical responsibilities.
• Choosing short-term gratification over long-term well-being or moral principles.
• Becoming so occupied with work, consumption, or social recognition that prayer, reflection, family, or service to others are pushed aside.

The verses do not teach that worldly life is inherently bad. Elsewhere, the Quran encourages people to seek lawful provision and benefit from the good things Allah has provided. Rather, the concern is making worldly life one's highest priority at the expense of one's relationship with Allah and accountability in the Hereafter.

In that sense, the message of Quran 87:16–17 is a reminder to keep worldly pursuits in balance with enduring spiritual values: "But you prefer the life of this world, while the Hereafter is better and more enduring." (Quran 87:16–17).

The surah thus addressees the real reason of the wretchedness, the failure which drives the disbelievers headlong into the great fire: “Yet you prefer this present life, while the life to come is better and longer lasting.” This short-sighted preference is the real reason for every misery which befalls man. It is indeed the cause of man’s taking no heed of the warnings given to him. The Qur’an calls the present life dunia which connotes both contempt and easy access. The life to come is better in kind and duration. Only the foolish who are deprived of sound judgement would, in the circumstances, prefer the present life to the next.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Surah 87 Al Ala الأعلى -The Most High, already published.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages: 

• Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
• Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
• Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Al Qur'an: Overview / Selected Verses Surah 87. Al-Aʿlā الأعلى - The Most High

Surah Al-Aʿlā الأعلى, the 87th Surah / Chapter 87) is one of the earliest Meccan surahs of Al Qur'an, revealed to the Prophet ﷺ. Although it contains only 19 verses, it presents a complete worldview: Who Allah is, who we are, why we are here, how revelation transforms us, and where we are ultimately going. It is so central that the Prophet ﷺ frequently recited it in Jumu'ah, ʿEid, and Witr prayers, showing that its message was meant to be revisited again and again.

We have already published the Tafseer / Exegesis of the Sürah, which can be accessed from by clicking on the highlighted link: Surah Al Ala -The Most High: Exegesis 87th Chapter of Quran

Herein under we will only present an overview of the entire Sūrah and some of the selected verses for selective reading / references. The following overview includes the context, major themes and subjects and lessons that we can learn from this Sūrah, followed by references to  some of the selected verses already published.

Historical Context

Surah Al-Aʿlā was revealed during the early Makkan period, when the Prophet ﷺ was beginning to receive revelation and the Muslims were few, thus highly vulnerable. The polytheists Quraysh mocked the message and the belief in resurrection was widely rejected.

In the ensuing difficult times and persecution at the hands of the idolaters, t+he early believers needed reassurance about three things:

• Who is Allah?
• Can this revelation be trusted?
• Will this mission succeed despite opposition?

Surah Al-Aʿlā was revealed to answers all three questions.

The Main Theme

The central message of the surah can be summarized in one sentence:

Glorify your Lord, trust His perfect wisdom, receive His guidance, purify yourself, and prepare for the Hereafter rather than becoming absorbed in the temporary attractions of this world.

Everything in the surah revolves around this journey. It moves through five stages:

• Knowing Allah.
• Trusting revelation.
• Responding to guidance.
• Purifying the soul.
• Choosing the Hereafter over worldly obsession.

The Structure of the Surah

1. Know your Lord (Verses 1–5)

• The surah begins: "Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High." (87:1) - This beginner makes it one of the Surahs of Al Qur'an known as Al-Musabbihat. Read our earlier post to know which surahs are classified as Al-Musabbihat and why from the link: Surahs of the Holy Quran Known as Al-Musabbihat "The Praisers"
• Allah then describes Himself as the One who created, perfected, determined everything with wisdom, guided every creature, and brings life from the earth and causes it to wither.
• These verses teach that nothing in creation is random. The same Lord who governs the universe governs our lives.
• Lesson: Faith begins by recognizing Allah's greatness before focusing on ourselves.

2. Trust revelation (Verses 6–8)

• Allah tells the Prophet ﷺ: "We shall make you recite, and you will not forget." (87:6)
• Then: "And We will facilitate for you the Way of Ease." (87:8)

These verses reassure the Prophet ﷺ that Allah will preserve the Qur'an in his heart and enable him to fulfill his mission.

For us, they teach that Allah does not burden His servants without providing guidance and assistance.

3. Reminder benefits receptive hearts (Verses 9–13)

• Allah commands: "So remind, if the reminder benefits." (87:9)
• This mentioned because some people accept reminders, while others reject them.
• The Prophet's responsibility was to convey the truth—not to force belief.
• This remains a principle for parents, teachers, scholars, and anyone calling others to goodness.

4. Success belongs to those who purify themselves (Verses 14–15)

One of the most beautiful declarations in the Qur'an: "Successful indeed is the one who purifies himself, remembers the Name of his Lord, and prays."

Notice the sequence: purification, remembrance, and prayer.

The surah teaches that outward worship flourishes when the heart is cleansed of arrogance, hypocrisy, envy, and attachment to sin.

5. The greatest disease (Verses 16–17)

This is perhaps the central warning of the surah: "But you prefer the worldly life, while the Hereafter is better and more lasting."

This diagnosis applies to every age. People often know what is right but choose immediate comfort over lasting reward. The verse does not condemn enjoying worldly blessings. It warns against preferring them when they conflict with obedience to Allah.

6. This message is timeless (Verses 18–19)

The surah concludes by acknowledging the earlier two scriptures being Divine: "Indeed, this is in the former scriptures—the scriptures of Ibrahim and Musa."

This tells us that the essential message of Islam has always been the same:

• Worship Allah alone,
• Purify the soul,
• Live righteously,
• Prepare for the Hereafter.

Foundational verses for our lives today (and links to their explanation through earlier posts)

1. "Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High." (87:1)

This verse changes perspective.

• While modern life often revolves around self, that is my success, my goals, and my image.
• The Qur'an begins instead with Allah.

This reminds us: When Allah is at the center, everything else finds its proper place.

2. "We shall make you recite, and you will not forget." (87:6)

This teaches that Allah preserves what He entrusts to His servants. It also reminds us that beneficial knowledge is ultimately a gift from Allah.

3. "We will facilitate for you the Way of Ease." (87:8)

This is one of the Qur'an's great promises.

Allah may not remove every hardship, but He can make obedience, patience, and steadfastness easier for those who sincerely seek Him. The greatest ease is not an easy life—it is a heart that finds obedience to Allah increasingly natural.

Please read detailed explanation of this verse from our already published post: Allah Does not remove every obstacle - He gives inner strength to overcome them (Al Qur'an)

4. "So remind, for reminding benefits." (87:9)

We often become discouraged when people ignore good advice. This verse reminds us that our responsibility is to convey truth with wisdom and sincerity. Ultimate Guidance belongs to Allah.

5. "Successful is the one who purifies himself." (87:14)

The Qur'an defines success differently from the world. The world often measures success by:

• Wealth,
• Fame,
• Influence,
• Achievements.

But Allah measures it by the condition of the soul.

Please read detailed explanation of this verse from our already published posts: 

• Who has been promised Prosperity as mentioned in Qur'an
• He who purified himself shall prosper
• He who purified himself shall prosper

6. "You prefer the worldly life." (87:16)

This verse asks every generation:

• What do you truly value most?
• When faith and comfort come into conflict, which one wins?

This question is as relevant today as it was in Makkah.

The detailed explanation of verses 16-17 is given at: Divine caution for those who prefer worldly pleasures  over lasting spiritual rewards

7. "The Hereafter is better and more lasting." (87:17)

This is not a call to abandon the world. It is a call to keep priorities straight. Use the world - Do not let the world use you.

Why did the Prophet ﷺ recite this surah so often?

Authentic hadith show that the Prophet ﷺ frequently recited Surah Al-Aʿlā in congregational worship. 

Scholars have noted that this makes sense because it continually renews a believer's perspective:

• Allah is Most High.
• Creation has purpose.
• Revelation is trustworthy.
• The soul must be purified.
• The Hereafter is eternal.

These are truths we need to hear repeatedly, not just once.

The surah's message in one sentence

If Surah Al-Aʿlā could speak directly to us today, it would say:

"Lift your eyes above the distractions of this world. Know your Lord, trust His guidance, purify your heart, keep reminding yourself and others of the truth, and never forget that your real success lies in the everlasting Hereafter."

A practical way to live Surah Al-Aʿlā

The surah can become a daily framework for life:

• Begin with Allah — glorify Him and remember that He is Al-Aʿlā (the Most High), above every fear and every worldly concern.
• Trust His guidance — believe that the One who created and perfected everything also knows what is best for your life.
• Ask for His facilitation — before any task, pray that Allah makes obedience, patience, and wisdom easy for you.
• Keep your heart clean — repent often, forgive others, and guard against pride, envy, and resentment.
• Choose the eternal over the temporary — enjoy Allah's lawful blessings with gratitude, but let every major decision be guided by what will benefit you in the Hereafter.

In this way, Surah Al-Aʿlā becomes more than a chapter we recite; it becomes a lens through which we view our purpose, our priorities, and our relationship with Allah.

In time we will add more selected ayat / verses from this surah.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages: 

• Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
• Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
• Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Allah Does not remove every obstacle - He gives inner strength to overcome them (Al Qur'an)

There have been billions of people living on this earth for whom extra ordinary means of exitance and sustenance have been Divinely provided - irrespective of the fact they believe in their Creator or not. However, there have been special people whom Allah loves and bestows upon them His countless blessings, both physically and spiritually. These are the blessed ones who have always kept the worship and love of their Creator above every other worldly delights and provisions.

These blessed ones are mentioned at various places in Al Qur'an. For examples some are Divinely gifted with spiritual receptivity "Sharḥ al-Ṣadr" - that is they may not be physically better than others in means of wealth, status and power - but they are the ones whose hearts have been opened for spiritual receptivity. 

Today, we share another verse which is one of the most hopeful and spiritually profound verses in the Qur'an. At first glance, it appears to be a promise made specifically to the Prophet ﷺ, but its principles illuminate the path of every believer. The is the 8th verse of Surah 87 Aʿlā (The Most High). Although the verse contains only three words, its meaning is remarkably deep.

The Verse

Arabic: وَنُيَسِّرُكَ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ

Translation: "And We will facilitate for you the Way of Ease."

(Other translations: "We shall make easy for you the easiest way," or "We shall ease you toward ease.")

The Context

The opening verses of Surah Al-Aʿlā reassure the Prophet ﷺ as revelation was being sent down:

• Glorify your Lord (87:1)
• Allah created and perfected everything (87:2–5)
• We shall make you recite so you will not forget (87:6–7)

Then comes the promise: "And We will facilitate for you the Way of Ease." (87:8)

The Prophet ﷺ was about to shoulder the greatest responsibility ever entrusted to a human being—conveying Allah's final revelation to humanity. Allah promised not only to preserve the Qur'an in his heart but also to make him fit for that mission.

This verse is furthermore a statement of the nature of Islam, its role in human life and in the universe. This verse, which is rendered in Arabic in no more than two words, states one of the most fundamental principles of faith and existence. It provides a link between the nature of the Prophet and the nature of Islam on the one hand and the nature of the whole universe on the other. It is a universe created by God with ease; it follows its appointed way with ease and draws nearer its final objective with ease. Thus it is an inspiration lighting limitless horizons.

If God smooths a certain person’s path, he finds ease in everything in his life. For he will move along his way to God with the universe, which is characterized by its harmony of construction, movement and direction. Hence he does not clash with those who digress, for these are of no importance, compared with the vast universe. Ease will pervade his whole life. It will be evident in his hand, tongue, movement, work, concepts, way of thinking and in the way he conducts all affairs and tackles all matters. Ease will be the  main feature of how he carries himself and how he deals with others as well.

Let us focus on the key word of this verse and see how it should be applied to our lives. 

What is "al-yusrā" (اليُسْرَى)?

The key word is al-yusrā, from the root y-s-r, meaning:

• Ease,
• Facility,
• Smoothness,
• What is right and manageable.

Classical exegetes such as Al-Tabari, Ibn Kathir, and Al-Qurtubi explain that al-yusrā includes:

• The easy and upright path of Islam,
• Righteous deeds,
• Wise and gentle calling to Allah,
• Success in fulfilling one's mission,
• Ultimately, the path that leads to Paradise.

Ibn Khatir explains the promise of Allah: `We will make good deeds and statements easy for you, and We will legislate such Law for you that is easy, tolerant, straight and just, with no crookedness, difficulty or hardship in it.'

So Allah is not merely saying: "Life will become easy." Rather, He is saying: "I will make you able to walk the path that leads to My pleasure."

That is a much deeper promise. Ease does not mean a life without hardship. This is crucial.

The Prophet ﷺ still endured persecution, boycott, hunger, the loss of loved ones, battles, and even physical injury.

So the question arises what became "easy"? For apparently he enduring miserable mistreatment at the hands of the polytheists and idol worshippers of Makkah.

The plain answer is His heart was made peaceful. It provided him the clarity of purpose, steadfastness and his ability to obey Allah despite difficulties. Although Allah did not remove every obstacle. He gave His Messenger ﷺ the inner strength to overcome them.

The deeper meaning

The verse teaches a profound spiritual principle: 

• When Allah chooses someone for a righteous purpose, He also equips them to fulfill it.
• Allah does not merely command—He enables.
• He does not only guide externally—He transforms internally.
• He opens the heart, strengthens resolve, and makes obedience increasingly natural.

This is closely connected to Sharḥ al-Ṣadr (expansion of the heart) discussed in Qur'an. We have explained this exclusive blessing in one of our earlier posts: Who are the blessed ones Divinely gifted with spiritual receptivity "Sharḥ al-Ṣadr."

How does Allah "facilitate" someone?

Allah's facilitation (taysīr) often happens in subtle ways:

1. He opens the heart to truth Acts of worship that once felt burdensome become beloved.

2. He places love of righteousness in the heart A believer begins to enjoy prayer, charity, Qur'an, and service to others.

3. He gives wisdom Decisions become clearer because one's priorities are shaped by revelation.

4. He provides opportunities Allah brings into a person's life:

• Beneficial teachers,
• Righteous companions,
• Moments of guidance,
• Doors of goodness.

5. He grants perseverance Difficulties remain, but despair does not dominate the heart.

Does this promise apply to us?

Although this verse is a specific promise was to the Prophet ﷺ. However, the principle applies to every believer. The Qur'an repeatedly teaches that Allah facilitates goodness for those who sincerely seek Him.

For example: "As for the one who gives, is mindful of Allah, and believes in the best reward, We will ease him toward ease." — Qur'an

Notice the pattern: You take the first step - Allah makes the path easier.

Similarly, the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise." Ease here is not the absence of effort; it is Allah's assistance in reaching a noble goal.

How do we adopt the essence of this verse?

This verse invites us to seek not an easy life, but Allah's facilitation.

1. Ask Allah for taysīr before every important task The Prophet ﷺ regularly made supplications asking Allah for ease. A beautiful example is: "O Allah, nothing is easy except what You make easy, and You can make hardship easy if You will." That is Recognize that true ease comes from Him.

2. Pursue what pleases Allah Allah promises facilitation for righteousness, not for every desire. If our goal is to please Him, we can hope for His help.

3. Begin with small acts of obedience Often, people wait until worship feels easy before they start. The Qur'an teaches the opposite: start sincerely, and Allah gradually opens the way.

4. Don't confuse ease with comfort A path may involve sacrifice yet still be "easy" in the Qur'anic sense because Allah grants peace, conviction, and endurance. Many righteous people have endured great hardship while experiencing remarkable serenity.

5. Pray for an open heart This verse pairs beautifully with the supplication of Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him): "My Lord, expand for me my breast, make my task easy for me..." — Qur'an

Notice the sequence:

An expanded heart, then ease in fulfilling the mission - A beautiful connection

This verse also complements: "Indeed, with hardship comes ease." — Qur'an

Together, these passages teach that Allah's promise of ease is not the removal of every trial. Rather, it is His gift of guidance, resilience, and inner peace so that hardship does not prevent a believer from fulfilling their purpose.

Reflection

The deepest message of Surah Al-Aʿlā 87:8 is this: Do not ask Allah merely for an easy life; ask Him to make you the kind of person for whom obedience, sincerity, patience, and righteousness become easy.

That is the "Way of Ease"—a heart so aligned with Allah that even when the road is difficult, walking toward Him becomes the most natural and peaceful direction. This is the ease that sustained the Prophet ﷺ throughout every trial, and it is an ease every believer should seek through faith, repentance, remembrance of Allah, and steadfast commitment to His guidance.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Photo | Resource references: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A. You may also refer to our refference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on important issue related to Islam to know more about Islam.

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Who has been promised Prosperity as mentioned in Qur'an

Today we share a very short, yet very meaningful verse from Qur'an. It is about prosperity and has a pre-clause to achieve it. Before we share the 14th verse of Surah Al Ala (The Most High), let us first know what prosperity is:

Wikipedia defines prosperity as flourishing, thriving, good fortune and successful social status. Prosperity often produces profuse wealth including other factors which can be profusely wealthy in all degrees, such as happiness and health.

It can be seen that in a wider spectrum, prosperity means an enhancement of any facet of life. We call a person prosperous if he has achieved a high post or honour in any field or for some a wealthy person is prosperous too. This is a pure worldly approach to define prosperity. But when we define prosperity in Islam and what leads to it, the brush strokes on the canvas change altogether. Let us see how by reading the selected verse for this post and by explaining its true perspective:

قَدۡ اَفۡلَحَ مَنۡ تَزَكّٰىۙ‏ 

(87:14) He who purified himself shall prosper

The simple verse says that whosever "PURIFIES" himself will PROSPER. Simple yet very meaningful verse and its explanation.

This to my reckoning, to be a true believer, one has to cleanse and purify his inner self when accepting Islam. That is, one has to wash away every bit of knowledge, cultural and ancestorial heritage to start afresh with a clean slate. That is HARD formatting one's hard disk so that not a trace of information of the bygone days remains on it.

As one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi put it: One who affirms the faith giving up disbelief and polytheism, adopts good morals giving up evil morals, and aligning oneself to good deeds giving up evil deeds. Success does not imply worldly prosperity, but true and real success whether worldly prosperity accompanies it or not. 

The concept of prosperity is explained in more details in other Surahs of Qur'an as under: 

فَمَنۡ اَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ افۡتَـرٰى عَلَى اللّٰهِ كَذِبًا اَوۡ كَذَّبَ بِاٰيٰتِهٖ ؕ اِنَّهٗ لَا يُفۡلِحُ الۡمُجۡرِمُوۡنَ‏ 

(Surah Yunus 10:17) Who, then, is a greater wrong-doer than he who forges a lie against Allah or rejects His signs as false? Surely the guilty shall not prosper.

Some foolish people draw wrong and misleading conclusions from this verse, by fallacious reasoning. They confine the meanings of falah to long life or worldly prosperity or worldly success and argue like this: This verse declares categorically that criminals can never attain success. The converse of this proposition, that is, anyone who is successful cannot be a criminal, must also be true. Hence, if a claimant should live a long life after his claim to Prophethood or prosper in the world or his claim receives a good response in the world from the people, he should be acknowledged as a true prophet. For they argue, if he had been a false prophet, he could not have prospered, but would have been killed or starved to death or rendered unsuccessful in his mission, as soon as he had claimed to be a prophet. But even a little thinking will show that this argument is fallacious on the face of it. 

• Firstly, the converse of every proposition is not always true. 
• Secondly, the Quran does not use the word falah in this limited sense. 
• Thirdly, Allah deals with the criminals according to His divine law of respite.

Now let us consider the matter in detail. The words “Indeed, the criminals will not be successful”, have not been used, in the context they occur, to prescribe a criterion for judging a true Prophet from a false one, so that if a claimant is successful, he should be accepted, and if he is not, he should be rejected. As a matter of fact, these words have been put in the mouth of the Messenger to make a declaration like this: I know for certain that the criminals cannot attain (true) success: therefore, I cannot commit the crime of making a false claim to Prophethood. But as regards you, I am absolutely sure that you cannot attain true success because you are guilty of falsely claiming me to be a true Prophet of Allah.

The other thing is that the word falah is not used in the limited sense of worldly success, but it has been used to denote the permanent success which never suffers any loss whatsoever irrespective of the fact whether the claimant gains or does not gain any worldly success in the initial stage. Nay, it is just possible that a false claimant who invites people to misguidance should attain great worldly success and his misguidance might also prosper. This is, however, not success in the terminology of the Quran, but this would be an utter failure. On the other hand, it is also possible that the inviter to the truth should suffer untold afflictions or fall a prey to the persecutions of the transgressors, and leave this world without winning over anyone to the side of the truth, but this will be, in the terminology of the Quran, true success and not a failure.

The other thing that refutes the fallacy of these foolish people is that they do not take into consideration the divine law of respite, according to which the mere fact that a false prophet enjoyed a long prosperous life is not a proof that he was a true prophet. The Quran has made it clear at many places that Allah does not expedite the matter of the punishment of the criminals, but gives them respite to mend their ways; nay, He also lets them loose in their deviation if they abuse that respite and become more corrupt. Sometimes He makes them even more prosperous so that they should fully manifest all the evils they had hidden in their hearts and incur full punishment which they really deserve for their evil deeds. The divine law of respite takes its due course in the case of false prophets as it does in the case of other criminals. And there is no reason why they should be an exception to this. Satan, the greatest of all criminals, has been allowed to practice every kind of deception up to the Day of Judgment, and there is no mention of any exception to this effect that he will not be allowed to set up a false prophet.

As a last resort, such perverse interpreters of the Quran turn to (Ayats 44-47 of Surah Al-Haqqah): If Muhammad had fabricated something himself and ascribed that to Us, We would have seized his hand and cut off his heart’s vein. But these cannot serve their purpose, for what they imply is only this: If the true Prophet appointed by Allah were to ascribe any false thing to Allah, he would be seized forthwith. Therefore, it is no more than a fallacy to argue from this to the erroneous conclusion that the impostor who is not seized is a true prophet, for this divine principle applies only to a true Prophet and not to an impostor. In order to grasp this point, let us take the instance of the government servants. It is obvious that the rules and regulations which are prescribed for government servants apply only to those who are actually government servants and not to impostors. Those who pretend to be government servants are dealt with according to the criminal code like other criminals and villains and not according to the code of employment. Besides this, the context in which these verses occur clearly shows that these are not laying down any criterion of judging whether a claimant is a true Prophet or an impostor. Moreover, a true Prophet can easily be distinguished from an impostor by his high character, his noble mission and the unique Message he presents. Hence there was no need to set up such an irrational and unnatural standard of distinguishing a true Prophet from an impostor.

نُسَارِعُ لَهُمۡ فِى الۡخَيۡـرٰتِ​ ؕ بَلْ لَّا يَشۡعُرُوۡنَ‏ 

(Surah Al-Muminun 23:56) We are busy lavishing on them all kinds of good? Nay, they do not perceive the reality of the matter.

This question has been posed as proof of the main theme of the Surah. It is meant to remove their misconception of "success", "welfare" and "prosperity", which the disbelievers had formed to delude themselves. According to them, the one who enjoyed the good things of life and wielded power and influence in society had attained "success". On the other hand, the one who was deprived of these things was a "failure". This misconception had involved " them in another serious misunderstanding. They thought that the one who had attained "success" was in the right, and the beloved of Allah. Otherwise, how could he have attained all the "successes"? On the contrary, the one who was apparently deprived of these things was surely wrong in his creed and erroneous in his deeds, and was under the wrath of God (or gods). As this misconception is one of the greatest deviations of the materialists, the Qur'an has stated it and refuted it in different ways at different places and made the reality plain. For instance, see A1-Baqarah (II): 126, 212, Al-A'araf (VII): 32, At-Taubah (IX): 55, 69, 85, Yunus (X):17, Hud (XI) :3, 27-31, 38-39, Ar-Ra`d (XIII): 26, Al-Kahf (XVIII): 28, 32-43, 103-105, Maryam (XIX):77-80, Ta Ha (XX): 131-132, Al-Anbiya` (XXI) :44 along with the relevant E.N.'s. In order to remove the above-mentioned misconceptions, one should keep in view the following:

(1) "Success" is a far higher thing than the material prosperity and the transitory success of an individual, community or nation

(2) It is absolutely wrong to consider "prosperity" and "success" as a criterion of truth and falsehood.

(3) It should be noted well that this world is a place of test and trial and not a place of reward and retribution. It is true that even in this world, sometimes there is some punishment or reward, but it is on a very limited scale, and even in this, there is an aspect of the test. Therefore, it is an utter folly to consider material "success" and "prosperity" to be proof that the recipient is in the right and so the beloved of the Lord, and vice versa. Moreover, the tests and trials of individuals and communities are of many varieties and a seeker after truth must understand at the outset that the worldly "success" or "failure" of the people is not the result of ultimate reward or punishment and cannot be regarded as the criterion for the right or wrong creed, morals and actions and a sign of being the beloved of God or otherwise.'

(4) One must have a firm belief that truth and righteousness will ultimately gain victory over falsehood and wickedness. As regards the criterion of truth and falsehood and right and wrong, one must judge this in the light of Revelations and teachings of the Messengers, because common sense confirms the same, and it is also supported by the general conception which mankind has always had of good and evil.

(5) As a corollary of the above, it would have become clear that according to the Qur'an (and this is confirmed by common sense), the conception of "reward" and "punishment" should also be different from the common one. For instance, if a wicked person or community is enjoying "prosperity", it is not a reward for its evil deeds but a harder test for it, and it is not a blessing but the wrath of Allah. It means that Allah has decided to punish the "prosperous people" with a severe scourge. On the other hand, if the righteous people are suffering from hardships and afflictions, it is not a punishment from Allah but a blessing in disguise to pass them through the "fire" to remove impurity, if any, from pure gold. If this hard trial is a blessing for the righteous people, it is a test for the wicked people to give them a severe punishment for the persecution of the former.

اُولٰٓـئِكَ عَلٰى هُدًى مِّنۡ رَّبِّهِمۡ​ وَاُولٰٓـئِكَ هُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ‏ 

(Surah Luqman 31:5) It is they who are on true guidance from their Lord, and it is they who shall prosper.

At the time when these verses were sent down, the disbelieves of Makkah thought, and said so openly, that Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace) and those who accepted his message were wasting and ruining their lives. Therefore, it was rejoined with full force and emphasis: ". these are the ones who will attain true success." That is, 'They will not ruin themselves as you seem to dunk in your ignorance, but they in fact are the ones who alone will attain true success, and the utter failures will be those who have refused to adopt this way."

Here the one who regards 'true success" as confined to the world, in the sense of material prosperity, will be wholly missing the Qur'anic concept of it. To understand the real concept of the true success one should study the following verses of the Qur'an along with the relevant explanations: AI-Baqarah: 2-5, AI-'Imran: 102, 130, 200, AI-Ma'idah: 35, 90, AI-An'am: 21, AI-A'raf; 7, 8, 157, At-Taubah: 88, Yunus: 17, An-Nahl: 116, Al-Hajj: 77, Al-Mu'minun: 117, An-Nur: ,51, Ar-Rum: 38.

Wrapping up the explanation and traits of those who will prosper, let us read the explanation of the selected verse in question:

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

At the other end we find prosperity accompanied with self- purification and a heeding of warnings. Purification is used here in the widest sense of the word: purification of everything filthy or sinful. The person who seeks to purify himself, glorifies his Lord, feels His power and majesty in his inmost soul and prays, [whether praying is taken in its general sense or its specific Islamic sense] will definitely be successful, as God states here. He will achieve success here in this life as he enjoys his relationship with God and the perfect bliss that results from his glorification of God. He will achieve even greater success in the hereafter as he escapes hell and is rewarded with perfect happiness in heaven. How different the two destinies are.

Now in light of the detailed explanation of the term Falal / Prosperity, we now have a clear idea who these promised believers would be who are promised prosperity. Let us cleanse our inner and outer shells and concentrate on the Divine Wisdom that promises us prosperity. Even if the wrongdoers are flourishing and even if the guided ones are living a rag tag life, yet the latter should take comfort that in the end it would be they who would be blessed with ultimate prosperity, if not in this world, but certainly in the life to come, In Sha Allah.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Al Qur'an guides and helps those who sincerely seek Divine Guidance and Help.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 

• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Yusuf Ali Translation
• Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Qur'an Wiki
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
• Towards Understanding the Quran

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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He who purified himself shall prosper

Purity is defined as freedom from adulteration or contamination. Thus a believer is commanded to purify himself from despised characteristics. Purity entails both physical and spiritual and moral purity. The latter is the state of being unsullied by sin or moral wrong. It is this purity that is stressed mor for unless one's inner self is clean and free from clattering, he cannot have a strong character, needed for true faith.

This purity if being referred to in the 14th verse of Surah 87. Al-A’la:

قَدۡ اَفۡلَحَ مَنۡ تَزَكّٰىۙ‏ 

(87:14) He who purified himself shall prosper

"Who purified himself": who affirmed the faith giving up disbelief and polytheism, adopted good morals giving up evil morals, and performed good deeds giving up evil deeds. Success does not imply worldly prosperity, but true and real success whether worldly prosperity accompanies it or not. 

Thus anyone who has guilt in himself, is not likely to succeed. In the 17th verse of Surah 10. Yunus, it is being said:

(10:17) Who, then, is a greater wrong-doer than he who forges a lie against Allah or rejects His signs as false? Surely the guilty shall not prosper.

In the 4th verse of Surah 31 Luqman, it is clarified who will be successful in their life:

(31:4) who establish Prayer and pay Zakah, and have firm faith in the Hereafter. 

(31:5) It is they who are on true guidance from their Lord, and it is they who shall prosper. 

And here too, the next verse mentions about those who establish and guard their prayers that they will succeed:

وَذَكَرَ اسۡمَ رَبِّهٖ فَصَلّٰى​ ؕ‏ 

(87:15) remembering his Lord's name and praying.

Yusuf Ali  Explanation: 

Prosper. in the highest sense; attain to Bliss or Salvation; as opposed to "enter the Fire". The first process in godliness is to cleanse ourselves in body, mind, and soul. Then we shall be in a fit state to see and proclaim the Glory of Allah. That leads us to our actual absorption in Praise and Prayer.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

It is this purification which is the objective of religion and whose reward will be given to a human being in the Hereafter in the form of Paradise. 

The next verse also substantiated the previous verse and explains that it is also the prayer which purifies the man:

(" وَ ذَکَرَ اسۡمَ رَبِّہٖ فَصَلّٰی " and for this he remembered his Lord’s name, then prayed [87:15] ) The Almighty has very concisely mentioned here the way to achieve this objective: one should adhere to God’s remembrance with a true comprehension of His attributes and should submit to Him with all his being. The prayer is the greatest manifestation of this remembrance and this submission.

Qur'an Wiki:

Purification is used here in the widest sense of the word: purification from everything filthy or sinful. The person who seeks to purify himself, glorifies his Lord, feels His power and majesty in his inmost soul and prays, [whether praying is taken in its general sense or its specific Islamic sense] will definitely be successful, as God states here. He will achieve success here in this life as he enjoys his relationship with God and the perfect bliss that results from his glorification of God. He will achieve even greater success in the hereafter as he escapes hell and is rewarded with perfect happiness in heaven. How different the two destinies are.

Thus, whoever engages in the act of trying to cleanse themselves from within, whoever has the time and effort to look inside themselves and say, ‘How can I become a better person, how can I cleanse myself, is there anything good inside me that I can nourish?’ – has succeeded. So look inside yourself, find something good inside of you, harvest it, and let it come out. The person who is concerned with cleaning themselves attained the ultimate success because now they have the right concern, the right attitude, the right priority.

Please listen to explanation of the ayat by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan:

May Allah help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. Aameen.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully.

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from following sources: 

• Towards Understanding the Quran
• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle

In addition the references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

He who purified himself shall prosper

Purity is the virtue of benevolence—acting without any trace of evil or selfish motives. Intentions are pure only when they are free of self-interest, egoism, desire, envy, cruelty, spite, greed, malice, lust, trickery, and dishonesty. Motives are pure only when they are free of power, control, and coercion. Purity can only be genuine, never faked. Purity is the state of being unsullied by sin or moral wrong; lacking a knowledge of evil. synonyms: innocence, pureness, sinlessness, whiteness. see more. types: cleanness.

And when it comes to the believers, it is those of them who have unflinching trust in Allah and who cleanse themselves from all impurities, whether physical or  spiritual. And it those who guard against all Satanic machinations and keep them safe from all worldly temptations that are the given the glad tidings of eternal prosperity as promised by Allah in the 14th verse of Surah 87. Al A'la:

قَدۡ اَفۡلَحَ مَنۡ تَزَكّٰىۙ‏ 

(87:14) He who purified himself shall prosper,

Who purified himself: Who affirmed the faith giving up disbelief and polytheism, adopted good morals giving up evil morals, and performed good deeds giving up evil deeds. Success does not imply worldly prosperity, but true and real success whether worldly prosperity accompanies it or not.

Purification can be of spiritual, physical or material.

– Spiritual purification can be achieved by avoiding polytheism and accepting Islamic Monotheism.

– Physical purification can be achieved by ablution (Wudoo) and ritual bath (Gusl).

– Material purification can be achieved by earning through Halal (lawful) means and spending it in the right way [i.e. (1) giving Zakat (obligatory charity), (2) spending on ownself, parents, children, wives, (3) giving voluntary charity to the poor and (4) in Allah’s Cause (for the sake of Islam)].

This is same as the first verse of Surah Al Mominoon:

قَدۡ اَفۡلَحَ الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَۙ‏ 

(23:1) The believers have indeed attained true success:

“Believers”, who have attained true success, are those who have accepted the message of Muhammad (peace be upon him), and have acknowledged him as their guide and followed the way of life taught by him.

This assertion cannot be fully appreciated unless one keeps in view the background in which it was made. On the one hand, there were the well-to-do and prosperous chiefs of Makkah, the opponents of Islam, whose business was thriving and who were enjoying every good thing of life, and on the other hand, there were the followers of Islam, majority of whom were either poor from the beginning, or had been reduced to poverty by ruthless antagonism to Islam. Therefore, the assertion: Most certainly the believers have attained true success, with which the discourse begins, was meant to tell the disbelievers that the criterion of success and failure that they had in mind was not correct. It was based on misconceptions besides being transitory and limited in nature: it led to failure and not true success. On the contrary, the followers of Muhammad (peace be upon him), whom they regarded as failures, were truly successful, because by accepting the invitation to the right guidance given by the Messenger of Allah, they had struck a bargain which would lead them to true success and everlasting bliss in this world as well as in the Hereafter, whereas by rejecting the message the opponents had incurred loss and would meet with the evil consequences both in this world and in the next.

This is the main theme of the Surah and the whole discourse, from the beginning to the end, is meant to impress the same.

And also:

اُولٰٓـئِكَ عَلٰى هُدًى مِّنۡ رَّبِّهِمۡ​ وَاُولٰٓـئِكَ هُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ‏  

(Surah 31 Luqman:5) It is they who are on true guidance from their Lord, and it is they who shall prosper.

At the time when these verses were sent down, the disbelieves of Makkah thought, and said so openly, that Muhammad (peace be upon him) and those who accepted his message were wasting and ruining their lives. Therefore, it was stated with full force and emphasis: “Those are the ones who will be successful.” That is, they will not ruin themselves as you seem to think in your ignorance, but they in fact are the ones who alone will attain true success, and the utter failures will be those who have refused to adopt this way. Here the one who regards true success as confined to the world, in the sense of material prosperity, will be fully missing the Quranic concept of it. 

To understand the real concept of the true success one should study the following verses of the Quran along with the relevant explanations: (Surah Al- Baqarah: Ayats 2-5), (Surah Aal-Imran: Ayats 102, 130, 200), (Surah Al-Maidah: Ayats 35, 90), (Surah Al-Anaam: Ayat 21), (Surah Al-Aaraf; Ayats 7, 8,157), (Surah At-Taubah: Ayat 88), (Surah Yunus: Ayat 17), (Surah An-Nahl: Ayat 116), (Surah Al-Hajj: Ayat 77), (Surah Al-Muminun: Ayat 117), (Surah An-Nur: Ayat 51), (Surah Ar-Rum: Ayat 38).

A true believer must always be praying to Allah, beseeching Him to keep him away from all physicals and spiritual impurities, saying:

As I pursue purity in my life, help me remember that this includes the fear of the Lord as well. May I remember always that You are the all-powerful God and I am to bow down in awe of You. God, grant me a pure heart and clean hands as I bow down in worship of You. You are gracious, good, and merciful. 

Remember, it is the heart when it is purified and enlightened , becomes inspired. Just as intellect is the instrument of knowledge, heart is the instrument of inspiration. If we are pure we will reach Allah. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see Allah”. A pure heart sees beyond the intellect. 

May Allah help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. Aameen.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 |  3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully.

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that:

• The plain translation has been taken from the Qur'ān officially published by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [1]
• The exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. [2]  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided by [2], additional input has been interjected from following sources: 

• Towards Understanding the Quran
• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle

In addition the references of  other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

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