Tafseer of The Most High · Al-A'laa · 87:14
He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The statement concerning the explanation of the statement of the Exalted: قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى (Indeed, successful is he who purifies himself) (14).
The Exalted, whose remembrance is sublime, says: indeed, he has attained success and reached his aspiration, who has purified himself of disbelief (kufr) and of the acts of disobedience toward Allah, and has acted according to what Allah has commanded him, and so has fulfilled His obligatory ordinances.
In accordance with what we have said, a group of the people of exegesis have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
ʿAlī related to me, he said: Abū Ṣāliḥ related to us, he said: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, His statement: قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى — he says: he who purifies himself of shirk (the ascribing of partners to Allah).
Muḥammad ibn al-Muthannā related to us, he said: Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Anṣārī related to us, he said: Hishām related to us, on the authority of al-Ḥasan, concerning His statement: قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى — he said: he who performs a pure deed.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, he said: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda: قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى — he said: he acts with godfearing piety (warʿan).
Saʿd ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Ḥakam related to me, he said: Ḥafṣ ibn ʿUmar al-ʿAdanī related to us, on the authority of al-Ḥakam, on the authority of ʿIkrima, concerning His statement: قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى — he who says: there is no god but Allah.
Others said: no, rather its meaning is: indeed, successful is he who has paid the zakāh of his wealth.
* Mention of who said that:
Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, he said: Mihrān related to us, on the authority of Sufyān, on the authority of ʿAlī ibn al-Aqmar, on the authority of Abū al-Aḥwaṣ: قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى — he said: whoever is able to give a small gift, let him do so; let him then rise and perform the prayer (ṣalāh).
Muḥammad ibn ʿUmāra al-Rāzī related to us, he said: Abū Nuʿaym related to us, he said: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of ʿAlī ibn al-Aqmar, on the authority of Abū al-Aḥwaṣ: قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى — he said: he who gives a small gift (raḍakha) (5).
Muḥammad ibn ʿUmāra related to us, he said: ʿUthmān ibn Saʿīd ibn Murra related to us, he said: Zuhayr related to us, on the authority of Abū Isḥāq, on the authority of Abū al-Aḥwaṣ, he said: when a beggar comes to one of you while he wishes to perform the prayer, let him put his alms before his prayer, for Allah says: قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى * وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّى (Indeed, successful is he who purifies himself, and remembers the name of his Lord and prays). So whoever is able to put alms before his prayer, let him do so.
Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, His statement: قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى — a man has purified himself by giving from his wealth, and has pleased his Creator.
Others said: no, rather what is meant by it is the zakāt al-fiṭr (the alms of the breaking of the fast).
* Mention of who said that:
ʿAmr ibn ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd al-Āmulī related to me, he said: Marwān ibn Muʿāwiya related to us, on the authority of Abū Khalda, he said: I came in to Abū al-ʿĀliya, and he said to me: when you go to the ʿīd prayer in the morning, pass by me. He said: I passed by him, and he said: have you eaten anything? I said: yes. He said: have you poured water over yourself (washed yourself)? I said: yes. He said: tell me, what have you done with your zakāh? I said: I have already paid it. He said: it was for this that I wanted you. Then he recited: قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى * وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّى and said: truly, the inhabitants of Medina know no alms more excellent than this and than the giving of water to drink.
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Footnotes:
(5) One says: raḍakha lahu bi-shayʾin min mālihi — "he gave him a small gift from his wealth," when he gives him something trifling.
