As-Saffat · Makki · ayah 121 of 182

As-Saffat 37:121

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

“Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Rescue, victory, a clear Book, guidance and a lasting greeting: this is what 'thus' points to, and it is how Allah repays doing good beautifully.

A reflection

What 'thus' is pointing at

Thus do We reward those who do good. The word kadhālika, thus, like that, is a pointing word. Each time it appears in this surah it points back at one story. Here it points at a list.

Read back over the last seven ayat. Allah favoured Musa and Harun. He rescued them and their people from the great distress. He helped them until they prevailed. He gave them the clear Book. He guided them to the straight path. He left a greeting of peace upon them among later generations. A concise modern commentary says it plainly: as We rewarded Musa and Harun with this good reward, so We reward those who do good.

A linguistic commentary, explaining the same line after Nuh's story, adds two touches. The demonstrative dhālika, that, is a far-pointing word, used to signal how high the reward stands. And the comparison means: a reward complete like that one, for those complete in doing good, not anything less.

So thus is not vague. For this story it means rescue from oppression, help in weakness, a Book in confusion, guidance on the road, and honour after death. It is a whole life's provision, described in seven short lines, and then promised in principle to anyone who does good.

The full entry has 2 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.