Juz 25: Fuṣṣilat 47 to Al-Jāthiyah
Section 6 of 20 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
6. Characteristics of Successful Believers
In Surah Ash-Shura, Allah (swt) beautifully outlines several distinctive qualities that characterize successful believers. These attributes serve as a practical roadmap for those seeking spiritual excellence and divine pleasure. Beginning at verse 36, the Quran presents these characteristics in a series of connected qualities that collectively form the profile of true success.
Allah (swt) first establishes a fundamental perspective on worldly possessions:
فَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَمَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
“So whatever thing you are given is an enjoyment of the worldly life. And what is with Allah is much better and more lasting for those who believe and place their trust in their Lord.”
This verse establishes the proper relationship believers should have with material possessions - recognizing them as temporary enjoyments rather than ultimate goals. What Allah (swt) offers is superior and everlasting, available specifically to those who believe and demonstrate tawakkul (reliance) on Allah. This reliance on Allah represents the first key characteristic of successful believers.
The verse immediately following describes additional qualities:
وَالَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ
“And those who avoid the major sins and shameful acts, and when they are angry, they forgive.”
Here we find three interconnected qualities: avoiding major sins, steering clear of obscenities and shameful acts, and practicing forgiveness even in moments of anger. This combination demonstrates both the preventative aspect of faith (avoiding sin) and its active dimension (exercising forgiveness). The ability to forgive when angry represents spiritual maturity, as it requires overcoming one's natural desire for retaliation.
The next verse continues with more characteristics:
وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ
“And those who have responded to their Lord and established prayer and whose affairs are [determined by] consultation among themselves, and from what We have provided them, they spend.”
This verse outlines four additional qualities: responding to Allah's call, establishing regular prayer, conducting affairs through mutual consultation (shura), and spending from what Allah has provided. The mention of **sh