Successful indeed are the........

Surah Al-Mu'minun


In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.



Successful indeed are the believers

Who are humble in their prayers,

And who shun vain conversation,

And who are payers of the poor-due;

And who guard their modesty -

[23:1-5]

Tafsir


The Success is for the believers whose qualities are described here




[قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ]



(Successful indeed are the believers)


means, they have attained victory and are blessed, for they have succeeded. These are the believers who have the following characteristics:




[الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلاَتِهِمْ خَـشِعُونَ ]



(Those who with their Salah are Khashi`un.) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said:




[خَـشِعُونَ]




"(Khashi`un) means those with fear and with tranquillity.''



This was also narrated from Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and Az-Zuhri.



It was reported from `Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, that Khushu` means the Khushu` of the heart. This was also the view of Ibrahim An-Nakha`i. Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, "Their Khushu` was in their hearts.'' So they lowered their gaze and were humble towards others. Khushu` in prayer is only attained by the one who has emptied his heart totally, who does not pay attention to anything else besides it, and who prefers it above all else.



At that point it becomes a delight and a joy for eyes, as in the Hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad and An-Nasa'i from Anas, who said that the Messenger of Allah said:




«حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ الطِّيبُ وَالنِّسَاءُ، وَجُعِلَتْ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاة»


(Fragrance and women have been made dear to me, and Salah was made the joy of my eye.)


[وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُّعْرِضُونَ ]



(And those who turn away from Al-Laghw.)


refers to falsehood, which includes Shirk and sin, and any words or deeds that are of no benefit. As Allah says:




[وَإِذَا مَرُّواْ بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّواْ كِراماً]



(And if they pas by Al-Laghw, they pas by it with dignity)[25:72]. Qatadah said: "By Allah, there came to them from Allah that which kept them away from that (evil).''


[وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَـوةِ فَـعِلُونَ ]



(And those who pay the Zakah.)


Most commentators say that the meaning here is the Zakah that is paid on wealth, even though this Ayah was revealed in Makkah, and Zakah was ordained in Al-Madinah in the year 2 H. The apparent meaning is that the Zakah that was instituted in Al-Madinah is the one based upon the Nusub and the specific amounts, apart from which it seems that the basic principle of Zakah was enjoined in Makkah. As Allah says in Surat Al-An`am, which was also revealed in Makkah:




[وَءَاتُواْ حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِ]



(but pay the due thereof on the day of their harvest, ) [6:141]


It could be that what is meant here by Zakah is purification of the soul from Shirk and filth, as in the Ayah:




[قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّـهَا - وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّـهَا ]


(Indeed he succeeds who purifies himself (Zakkaha).



And indeed he fails who corrupts himself.) [91:9-10]


It could be that both meanings are intended, purification of the soul and of one's wealth, because that is part of the purification of the soul, and the true believer is one who pays attention to both matters. And Allah knows best.




[وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَـفِظُونَ - إِلاَّ عَلَى أَزْوَجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ - فَمَنِ ابْتَغَى وَرَآءَ ذلِكَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ ]



(And those who guard their private parts. Except from their wives and their right hand possessions, for then, they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors.)


means, those who protect their private parts from unlawful actions and do not do that which Allah has forbidden; fornication and homosexuality, and do not approach anyone except the wives whom Allah has made permissible for them or their right hand possessions from the captives. One who seeks what Allah has made permissible for him is not to be blamed and there is no sin on him.



Source: Tafsir.com