Maryam · Makki · ayah 96 of 98

Maryam 19:96

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وُدًّا

“Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.[829]”

Saheeh International

Essence

For those who believe and do good, the Most Merciful Himself will plant love in hearts: love they did not court and could never buy.

A reflection

Not popularity, but love planted by Another

Many readers hear this ayah as a promise of popularity. Be good, and people will like you. In an age of follower counts, it is easy to read wudd as reach: being well known, well liked, admired.

The commentaries describe something quite different. A rhetorical commentary, followed by a theological one that calls it the majority view, explains the promise. Allah will create affection for them in hearts, and sow it there, without their courting it. Not through the usual causes by which people win affection: kinship, friendship, favours done. It is an origination from Him, from the beginning, a special honour for His friends.

That is the opposite of popularity. Popularity is earned, managed, performed. This love is planted by Another hand, in hearts the believer may never have visited.

A narration-based commentary preserves a story about exactly this difference. A man swore he would worship Allah in a way that would get him talked about. He was always first into the mosque and last out, always seen standing in prayer. For seven months, whenever he passed people, they said: look at this show-off. Then he turned on himself. I am only mentioned for evil, he said; I will make all my work for Allah. He changed nothing but his intention. Afterwards, when he passed the same people, they said: may Allah have mercy on him now. The early scholar who told the story then recited this ayah.

The man's deeds did not change. His audience did. Love that is chased runs away. Love that is planted by the Most Merciful grows where no one sowed it.

The full entry has 7 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.