Surah Al-Mu’minun was revealed in Mecca.  This Surah lists the most important traits of believers.  It provides a score card for the believers to judge themselves before they are judged by Allah. It is important to note that these traits include both morals and rituals (الأخلاق والعبادات) and they are the key to paradise.  Omar ibn Al-Khatab reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن عمر بن الخطاب – رضي الله عنه – قال : قال رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم …..”أُنْزِلَ عَلَيَّ عَشْرُ آيَاتٍ مَنْ أَقَامَهُنَّ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ ، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ : “ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ” ، حَتَّى خَتَمَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ )الترمذي(

“Ten Ayat were revealed to me. Whoever abides by them (practices their commands) will enter paradise. Then He (PBUH) recited (قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ) “Indeed the believers had succeeded” until He finished the ten Ayat off Surah Al Mu’minun [Tirmidhi]

Note:  When the term (قد) comes before a present tense verb, it implies doubt and thus can be translated as “may be”, such as: (قد ينجح فلانٌ) “such and such may succeed”.  But, if the term (قد) comes before a past tense verb, it implies confirmation and assurance and thus it is translated as “indeed or truly”, such as (﴿ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ “Indeed, the believers had succeeded”, i.e. success has already been achieved.

We note that the term (قد) came before a past tense verb in the form (قَدْ أَفْلَحَ) in the Quran in three places to give assurance by Allah that success is indeed achieved. The three places are:

﴿ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا ﴾) سورة الشمس (

“Indeed, he who purified his own self had succeeded.” (Ash-Shams 91:9)

﴿ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى ﴾) سورة الأعلى (

“Indeed, he who is purified had succeeded.” (Al-Ala 87:14)

﴿ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴾ ( سورة المؤمنون )

“Indeed, the believers had succeeded”. (Al- Mu’minun 23:1)

The Surat identified six traits of the believers.  These six traits include three worship traits followed by three manner traits. These six traits are:

1. Reverent (have Khoshoo) in their prayers. (ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ فِى صَلَاتِہِمۡ خَـٰشِعُونَ)
2. Abstaining from vain talk. (وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَنِ ٱللَّغۡوِ مُعۡرِضُونَ)
3. Actively working to pay the Zakat. (وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِلزَّكَوٰةِ فَـٰعِلُونَ)
4. Chaste by guarding their private part.

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِفُرُوجِهِمۡ حَـٰفِظُونَ (٥) إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزۡوَٲجِهِمۡ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَـٰنُہُمۡ فَإِنَّہُمۡ غَيۡرُ مَلُومِينَ

5. Faithfully observe their trusts and their covenants.

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمۡ وَعَهۡدِهِمۡ رَٲعُونَ

6. Carefully maintain their prayers. (وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَٲتِہِمۡ يُحَافِظُونَ)

Whosoever truly fulfill these six traits wins the divine prize that is guaranteed by Allah:

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثُونَ (١٠) ٱلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلۡفِرۡدَوۡسَ هُمۡ فِيہَا خَـٰلِدُونَ (١١)

These are indeed the inheritors who shall inherit Paradise where they shall live therein forever. (23:10-11)

It is important that we evaluate ourselves according to these traits and ensure that we are continuously improving. The wisest among us is the one who holds himself accountable before he will be held accountable by Allah.  The Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن أبي يعلى شداد بن أوس – قال : قال رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم : ” الكيس من دان نفسه وعمل لما بعد الموت ، والعاجز من أتبع نفسه هواها وتمنى على الله – عز وجل .”]رواه البيهقي والترمذي وابن ماجه[.

“A wise person is one who holds himself accountable and strives for that which will benefit him after death; and the incapacitated is one who subordinates himself to his temptations and expects from Allah the fulfillment of his futile desires.” (Tirmidhi and others)

Let us examine these 6 traits and assess where we stand:

Reverence (Khoshoo) in the prayers (الخشوع فى الصلاة):  The “Khoshoo” (الخشوع) is the attentive humility and the feeling of an awe of Allah that resides in the heart and is manifested by the limbs (الخشوع محله القلب ، ومظهره في الجوارح). What is the quality of our prayers? Do you concentrate on what you are saying while praying? What is the score we give to ourselves with respect to concentration in the prayer?  Do you feel an awe of Allah in front of Whom you are standing? A sign of the lack of “Khoshoo” (الخشوع) in the prayer is the excessive unnecessary movements.

Abstaining from vain talk (عروض عن الغو): Are your talks free from words that could cause problems or hatred?  Do we stop your tongue from gossiping and useless speech? Do we abstain from attending assemblies where people talk badly about each other?

Maintaining Chastity (حفظ الفرج): How much do you safeguard your heart from unclean feelings/thoughts, and preserve your eyes from mischievous sights?  How far do you abstain from all avenues that could lead to adultery and fornication?  It is reported that Prophet Isa (PBUH) said:

ورد في الأناجيل للسيد المسيح عليه الصلاة والسلام : أنه ليس الشريف الذي لا يقترف الخطيئة ، بل هو الذي يهرب من أسباب الخطيئة.

“The honorable is not the one who escape from the sin but the honorable is the one who escapes from its causes.”

 In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus (PBUH) said:

«قَدْ سَمِعْتُمْ أَنَّهُ قِيلَ لِلْقُدَمَاءِ: لاَ تَزْنِ. ٢٨ وَأَمَّا أَنَا فَأَقُولُ لَكُمْ: إِنَّ كُلَّ مَنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى امْرَأَةٍ لِيَشْتَهِيَهَا فَقَدْ زَنَى بِهَا فِي قَلْبِهِ. ٢٩ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ عَيْنُكَ الْيُمْنَى تُعْثِرُكَ فَاقْلَعْهَا وَأَلْقِهَا عَنْكَ لأَنَّهُ خَيْرٌ لَكَ أَنْ يَهْلِكَ أَحَدُ أَعْضَائِكَ وَلاَ يُلْقَى جَسَدُكَ كُلُّهُ فِي جَهَنَّمَ.

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery. (28)  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (29) If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. (Matthew 5:27-30)

Faithfully observe trusts and covenants (الامانة): How much do we cling to honesty, whether in minor issues or major ones? Issues such as distributing copyrighted materials, identifying deficiencies in anything you sell, or borrowing something and never returning it. How about our covenant with Allah to believe in none but Him and to seek help from none but Him (إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ).    Also, how about our commitment to spread the message of Allah.  How about making a commitment just to avoid the argument while you have no intention to fulfill it.

Maintaining the prayers (المحافظة على الصلاة): Do we pray regularly and on time? Are we keen on praying in groups and in the Masjid?  Note that Allah sandwiched the attributes between two attributes associated with prayers.  This clearly emphasizes the criticality of prayers.  No one can truly claim belief without performing the prayers. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن جابرِ بنِ عبدِ اللهِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهما، قال: سمعتُ النبيَّ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم يقول: ((إنَّ بَينَ الرجُلِ وبَينَ الشِّركِ والكُفرِ تَرْكَ الصَّلاةِ ) صحيح مسلم(

“Indeed, between a person and the shirk (polytheism) and the kufr (unbelief) is the abandonment of the prayer”.

 The Surat continues to provide additional traits the believers:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنۡ خَشۡيَةِ رَبِّہِم مُّشۡفِقُونَ (٥٧)

Surely, those who are anxious out of awe of their Lord. (23:57)

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّہِمۡ يُؤۡمِنُونَ (٥٨)

And those who believe in the Ayat of their Lord. (23:58)

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِرَبِّہِمۡ لَا يُشۡرِكُونَ (٥٩)

And those who do not associate any partner with their Lord. (23:59)

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡتُونَ مَآ ءَاتَواْ وَّقُلُوبُہُمۡ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّہُمۡ إِلَىٰ رَبِّہِمۡ رَٲجِعُونَ (٦٠)

And those who give whatever they (have to) give with their hearts trembling at the thought that to their Lord they must return.  (23:60)

 For the believers who have these traits, Allah made divine testimony about them by saying:

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلۡخَيۡرَٲتِ وَهُمۡ لَهَا سَـٰبِقُونَ (٦١)

It is these who hasten in the good deeds, and they are indeed foremost in attaining them. (23:61) [i.e., they never miss a chance for getting more reward from Allah.

Upon hearing the Ayat (وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡتُونَ مَآ ءَاتَواْ وَّقُلُوبُہُمۡ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّہُمۡ إِلَىٰ رَبِّہِمۡ رَٲجِعُونَ) “And those who give whatever they (have to) give with their hearts trembling at the thought that to their Lord they must return”, Sayeda Aisha asked the Prophet (PBUH), are those who drink Alcohol (Khamr) and steal?  The Prophet (PBUH) said:

سألتُ عائشة أم المؤمنين رسولَ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم عن هذه الآيةِ {وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوْا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ}. قالت عائِشةُ: أهم الذين يَشرَبونَ الخَمرَ ويَسرِقونَ؟ قال: لا يا بِنتَ الصِّديقِ، ولكِنَّهم الذين يصومون ويُصَلُّونَ ويتصَدَّقون وهم يخافون ألَّا تُقبَلَ منهم، أولئك الذين يسارِعونَ في الخيراتِ وهم لها سابِقونَ ] الترمذي وابن ماجه[

“No, O the daughter of As-Siddiq (Abu Bakr), they are those who fast, pray, and give charity but are afraid that they (their good deeds) may not be accepted (by Allah) from them. They are those who hasten in the good deeds, and they are indeed foremost in attaining them.”   (Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)

All the traits that Allah identified for the believers are feasible for every person to achieve because Allah will never impose on people requirements beyond their capacity, as He said:

وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَا‌ۖ وَلَدَيۡنَا كِتَـٰبٌ۬ يَنطِقُ بِٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۚ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ (٦٢)

And We task not any person except according to his capacity, and with Us is a Record which speaks the truth, and they will not be wronged. (23:62)

The Surat also gives accounts of the people’s response to past prophets. Some prophets are mentioned by name such as (نوح موسى هارون عيسى ابن مريم), and others were not.  Allah says:

ثُمَّ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتۡرَا‌ۖ كُلَّ مَا جَآءَ أُمَّةً۬ رَّسُولُهَا كَذَّبُوهُ‌ۚ فَأَتۡبَعۡنَا بَعۡضَہُم بَعۡضً۬ا وَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ أَحَادِيثَ‌ۚ فَبُعۡدً۬ا لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ لَّا يُؤۡمِنُونَ (٤٤)

Then We sent Our Messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation their Messenger, they denied him; so We made them follow one another and We made them as examples. So away with a people who do not believe!” (23:44)

Generally, those who disbelieve reject two issues:

1. The oneness of God.
2. The resurrection.

The Surat presented their argument regarding resurrection as follows:

أَيَعِدُكُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ إِذَا مِتُّمۡ وَكُنتُمۡ تُرَابً۬ا وَعِظَـٰمًا أَنَّكُم مُّخۡرَجُونَ (٣٥) ۞ هَيۡہَاتَ هَيۡہَاتَ لِمَا تُوعَدُونَ (٣٦) إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنۡيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحۡيَا وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَبۡعُوثِينَ (٣٧)

Does he promise you that when you have died and become dust and bones that you will (again) be brought forth? (35) How too improbable is what you are being promised. (36) There is nothing but our worldly life – we die and live, but we will not be resurrected. (23:35-37)

 بَلۡ قَالُواْ مِثۡلَ مَا قَالَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ (٨١) قَالُوٓاْ أَءِذَا مِتۡنَا وَڪُنَّا تُرَابً۬ا وَعِظَـٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَ (٨٢) لَقَدۡ وُعِدۡنَا نَحۡنُ وَءَابَآؤُنَا هَـٰذَا مِن قَبۡلُ إِنۡ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ (٨٣)

Rather, they say as the earlier people had said. (81) They said, “Is it that. when we have died and become dust and bones, are we to be resurrected? (82) This is what has been promised to us and to our fathers before; this is nothing but the fables of the ancients.” (23:81-83)

The belief in resurrection is critical because without it, there will be no accountability and thus there will be no ultimate justice. Also, without it, the belief in One God becomes inconsequential.

Therefore, belief in resurrection was emphasized as part of explaining the cycle of man’s creation in the following Ayat:

وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ مِن سُلَـٰلَةٍ۬ مِّن طِينٍ۬ (١٢) ثُمَّ جَعَلۡنَـٰهُ نُطۡفَةً۬ فِى قَرَارٍ۬ مَّكِينٍ۬ (١٣) ثُمَّ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلنُّطۡفَةَ عَلَقَةً۬ فَخَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡعَلَقَةَ مُضۡغَةً۬ فَخَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡمُضۡغَةَ عِظَـٰمً۬ا فَكَسَوۡنَا ٱلۡعِظَـٰمَ لَحۡمً۬ا ثُمَّ أَنشَأۡنَـٰهُ خَلۡقًا ءَاخَرَ‌ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحۡسَنُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقِينَ (١٤) ثُمَّ إِنَّكُم بَعۡدَ ذَٲلِكَ لَمَيِّتُونَ (١٥) ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ تُبۡعَثُونَ (١٦)

We created man from an extract of clay, (12) Then We made him as a sperm-drop in a firm resting place, (13) then We developed that drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into fetus lump of flesh, and We made from the lump bones, and clothed the bones with flesh. Then We developed him into another creation. So glorious is Allah, the best of Creators, (14) After this you shall surely die. (15) Then you will be raised up again on the Day of Judgment. (23:12-16)

The Surat challenges the disbelievers by asking them questions to make them realize the disconnect between what they really know about Allah and what they claim:

قُل لِّمَنِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَمَن فِيهَآ إِن ڪُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (٨٤) سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ‌ۚ قُلۡ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ (٨٥)

Say: “To whom belongs the earth and whoever is in it, if you have knowledge?” (84) They will say: “To Allah.” Say: “Will you not then remember?” (23:84-85)

  قُلۡ مَن رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ ٱلسَّبۡعِ وَرَبُّ ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ (٨٦) سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ‌ۚ قُلۡ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ (٨٧)

Say: “Who is Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Great Throne?” (86) They will say, “All belongs to Allah.” Say, “Will you not be conscious of Him?” (23:86-87)

 قُلۡ مَنۢ بِيَدِهِۦ مَلَكُوتُ ڪُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَهُوَ يُجِيرُ وَلَا يُجَارُ عَلَيۡهِ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (٨٨) سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ‌ۚ قُلۡ فَأَنَّىٰ تُسۡحَرُونَ (٨٩)

Say: “In whose hand is the dominion of all things – and He protects while none can protect against Him – if you have knowledge?” (88) They will say: “[All belongs] to Allah.” Say: “Then how can you be so deluded?” (23:88-89)

These questions are concluded by rationalizing why what Allah has revealed is the truth and all what they claim is mere lies.

بَلۡ أَتَيۡنَـٰهُم بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِنَّهُمۡ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ (٩٠)

The fact is that We have brought to them the truth, and they are absolute liars. (23:90)

Also, if they use their logic, they will conclude that Allah is the only God.

مَا ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِن وَلَدٍ۬ وَمَا ڪَانَ مَعَهُ ۥ مِنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ‌ۚ إِذً۬ا لَّذَهَبَ كُلُّ إِلَـٰهِۭ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَلَعَلَا بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬‌ۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ (٩١) عَـٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ فَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشۡرِڪُونَ (٩٢)

Allah has not taken any son, nor has there ever been any god with Him.  Had there been so, then each god would have taken away what he created, and each one of them would have sought to overcome others. Exalted is Allah above what they describe. (91) He is the Knower of the invisible and the visible. So, He is far above what they associate [with Him]. (23:91-92)

The Surat ends by re-emphasizes again the fact that everyone will face death and will be resurrected for facing the Judgement of Allah. The Surat presents a clear scene of the state of the disbelievers:

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱرۡجِعُونِ (٩٩) لَعَلِّىٓ أَعۡمَلُ صَـٰلِحً۬ا فِيمَا تَرَكۡتُ‌ۚ كَلَّآ‌ۚ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَآٮِٕلُهَا‌ۖ وَمِن وَرَآٮِٕهِم بَرۡزَخٌ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ يُبۡعَثُونَ (١٠٠) فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَلَآ أَنسَابَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ وَلَا يَتَسَآءَلُونَ (١٠١)

Until, when death comes to one of them (the disbelievers), he says: “My Lord, send me back. (99) So that I might do righteousness in that which I left behind.” No, it is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected. (100) When the trumpet is blown, no ties of kinship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another. (101)

 فَمَن ثَقُلَتۡ مَوَٲزِينُهُ ۥ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ (١٠٢) وَمَنۡ خَفَّتۡ مَوَٲزِينُهُ ۥ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ فِى جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدُونَ (١٠٣) تَلۡفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَهُمۡ فِيہَا كَـٰلِحُونَ (١٠٤)

And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] – they who are the successful ones. (102) But those whose scales are light – they are the ones who have failed themselves.  In Hell they are to remain forever. (103) The Fire will scorch their faces, and they will be disfigured therein. (23:99-104)

 While people may feel that this worldly life is long, on the day of judgment, it will seem that it was too short.

قَـٰلَ كَمۡ لَبِثۡتُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ عَدَدَ سِنِينَ (١١٢) قَالُواْ لَبِثۡنَا يَوۡمًا أَوۡ بَعۡضَ يَوۡمٍ۬ فَسۡـَٔلِ ٱلۡعَآدِّينَ (١١٣) قَـٰلَ إِن لَّبِثۡتُمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬‌ۖ لَّوۡ أَنَّكُمۡ كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (١١٤) أَفَحَسِبۡتُمۡ أَنَّمَا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُمۡ عَبَثً۬ا وَأَنَّكُمۡ إِلَيۡنَا لَا تُرۡجَعُونَ (١١٥)

[Allah] will say, “How long did you remain on earth by number of years?” (112) They will say, “We remained a day or part of a day; ask those (angels) who can enumerate.” (113) He will say: “You did not stay but for a little – if only you had known. (114) So, did you think that We created you nothing and that you will not be brought back to Us?” (23:112-115)

 Surat Al-Mu’minun closes with a supplication for the believers, who may have erred or failed to always maintain the traits of the believers. Allah comforted them by teaching them to ask for His forgiveness and mercy.

وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱغۡفِرۡ وَٱرۡحَمۡ وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٲحِمِينَ (١١٨)

“And say: “My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for You are the Best of those who show mercy!” (23:118).