Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 111

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Surely, Allah has bought their lives and their wealth from the believers, in exchange of (a promise) that Paradise shall be theirs. They fight in the way of Allah, and kill and are killed, on which there is a true promise (as made) in the Torah and the Injīl and the Qur’ān. And who can be more faithful to his covenant than Allah? So, rejoice in the deal you have made, and that is the great achievement.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Allah has indeed purchased from the believers their lives and wealth in exchange for Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah and kill or are killed. This is a true promise binding on Him in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran. And whose promise is truer than Allah’s? So rejoice in the exchange you have made with Him. That is ˹truly˺ the ultimate triumph.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth, and in return they will have Paradise; they fight in the cause of Allah and they kill or are killed. This is a true promise, given by Him in the Torah, the Gospel and the Qur’an. Who is more faithful to his promise than Allah? Rejoice then in the transaction you have made with Him; that is the supreme triumph.

A. J. Arberry

God has bought from the believers their selves and their possessions against the gift of Paradise; they fight in the way of God; they kill, and are killed; that is a promise binding upon God in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Koran; and who fulfils his covenant truer than God? So rejoice in the bargain you have made with Him; that is the mighty triumph.

Abdul Haleem

God has purchased the persons and possessions of the believers in return for the Garden- they fight in God’s way: they kill and are killed- this is a true promise given by Him in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran. Who could be more faithful to his promise than God? So be happy with the bargain you have made: that is the supreme triumph.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Verily Allah hath bought of the believers their lives and their riches for the price that theirs shall be the Garden: they fight in the way of Allah and slay and are slain: a promise due thereon in the Taurat, in the Injil - and the Qur'an-and who is more faithful unto his covenant than Allah? Rejoice wherefore in your bargain which ye have made. And that it is the mighty achievement.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise); they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain; a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur'an; and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded; that is the achievement supreme.

Abul Ala Maududi

Surely Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their belongings and in return has promised that they shall have Paradise. They fight in the Way of Allah, and slay and are slain. Such is the promise He has made incumbent upon Himself in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Qur'an. Who is more faithful to his promise than Allah? Rejoice, then, in the bargain you have made with Him. That indeed is the mighty triumph.

Ahmed Ali

God has verily bought the souls and possessions of the faithful in exchange for a promise of Paradise. They fight in the cause of God, and kill and are killed. This is a promise incumbent on Him, as in the Torah, so the Gospel and the Qur'an. And who is more true to his promise than God? So rejoice at the bargain you have made with Him; for this will be triumph supreme.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Indeed Allah has purchased from the Muslims their lives and their wealth in exchange of Paradise for them; fighting in Allah's cause, slaying and being slain; a true promise incumbent upon His mercy, (mentioned) in the Taurat and the Injeel and the Qur’an; who fulfils His promise better than Allah? Therefore rejoice upon your deal that you have made with Him; and this is the great success.

Ali Quli Qarai

Indeed Allah has bought from the faithful their souls and their possessions for paradise to be theirs: they fight in the way of Allah, kill, and are killed. A promise binding upon Him in the Torah and the Evangel and the Quran. And who is truer to his promise than Allah? So rejoice in the bargain you have made with Him, and that is the great success.

Ali Ünal

God has bought from the believers their selves and wealth because Paradise is for them. They fight in God’s cause, and they kill or are killed. This is a promise with which God has bound Himself in the Torah and in the Gospel and in the Qur’an. Who could be more faithful to his covenant than God? So (O believers) glad tidings to you because of the bargain you have made with Him! That indeed is the supreme triumph.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Allâh has indeed purchased from the believers their persons and their possessions. Theirs, in return, is the (Heavenly) Garden; they fight in the cause of Allâh, so they slay and are slain, an unfailing promise (that He has made) binding upon Himself (as mentioned) in the Torah and the Evangel and the Qur´ân. And who is more faithful and true to his covenant than Allâh? (Believers!) rejoice over the bargain you have made with Him and this indeed is a great achievement.

English Literal

That God bought from the believers their selves and their properties/wealths , with that for them (is) the Paradise, they fight/kill in God`s sake , so they fight/kill and they be fought/killed, a promise truthfully in the Torah/Old Testament, and the Bible/New Testament , and the Koran , and who (is) more fulfilling/completing with his promise/pledge than God? So be announced good news with your sale/trade which you sold/traded with it, and that (is) the great, the triumph/salvation .

Faridul Haque

Indeed Allah has purchased from the Muslims their lives and their wealth in exchange of Paradise for them; fighting in Allah´s cause, slaying and being slain; a true promise incumbent upon His mercy, (mentioned) in the Taurat and the Injeel and the Qur’an; who fulfils His promise better than Allah? Therefore rejoice upon your deal that you have made with Him; and this is the great success.

Hamid S. Aziz

Verily, Allah hath bought of the believers their lives and their wealth, because the Garden will be theirs; they shall fight in the way of Allah, and they shall slay and be slain, a promised binding on Him in Truth, in the Torah and the Gospel and the Quran; and who is more faithful to His covenant than Allah? Rejoice then in the covenant which you have made with Him, for that is the supreme triumph.

Hilali & Khan

Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties; for the price that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and the Quran. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

The building which they have built will ever continue to be a source of disquiet in their hearts, unless their hearts be torn to pieces. And Allah is Knowing, Wise.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Surely Allah has bought of the believers their persons and their property for this, that they shall have the garden; they fight in Allah's way, so they slay and are slain; a promise which is binding on Him in the Taurat and the Injeel and the Quran; and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? Rejoice therefore in the pledge which you have made; and that is the mighty achievement.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Lo! Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. Who fulfilleth His covenant better than Allah? Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph.

Muhammad Sarwar

God has purchased the souls and property of the believers in exchange for Paradise. They fight for the cause of God to destroy His enemies and to sacrifice themselves. This is a true promise which He has revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran. No one is more true to His promise than God. Let this bargain be glad news for them. This is indeed the supreme triumph.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Allah has purchased from the believers their selves and possessions, and for them is Paradise. They fight in the Way of Allah, slay, and are slain. That is a binding promise upon Him in the Torah, the Gospel and the Koran; and who is there that more truthfully fulfills his covenant than Allah? Therefore, rejoice in the bargain you have bargained with Him. That is the mighty winning.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for (the price) that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's cause, so they kill and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Tawrah and the Injil and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success.

Wahiduddin Khan

God has bought from the believers their lives and their wealth in return for the Garden. They fight for the cause of God and they kill and are killed. It is a promise binding on Him in the Torah, the Gospel and the Quran, and who is truer to his promise than God? Rejoice then in the bargain you have made. That is the supreme achievement.

Talal Itani

God has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties in exchange for Paradise. They fight in God’s way, and they kill and get killed. It is a promise binding on Him in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Quran. And who is more true to his promise than God? So rejoice in making such an exchange—that is the supreme triumph.

Tafsir jalalayn

Indeed God has purchased from the believers their lives and their possessions, that they expend it in obedience of Him -- for example by striving in His way -- so that theirs will be [the reward of] Paradise; they shall fight in the way of God and they shall kill and be killed (this sentence is independent and constitutes an explication of the [above-mentioned] `purchase'; a variant reading has the passive verb come first [sc. fa-yuqtalna wa-yaqtuln, `they shall be killed and shall kill'], meaning that some of them are killed while those who remain, fight on); that is a promise which is binding (both [wa`dan, `promise', and haqqan, `binding'] are verbal nouns, and are in the accusative on account of their omitted [implicit] verbs) upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'n; and who fulfils his covenant better than God?, that is, no one is better in fulfilling it. Rejoice then (there is a shift from the third [to second] person here) in this bargain of yours which you have made, for that, bargain, is the supreme triumph, the one that secures the ultimate goal.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah has purchased the Souls and Wealth of the Mujahidin in Return for Paradise

Allah says,

إِنَّ اللّهَ اشْتَرَى مِنَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الجَنَّةَ


Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for (the price) that theirs shall be the Paradise.

Allah states that He has compensated His believing servants for their lives and wealth -- if they give them up in His cause -- with Paradise. This demonstrates Allah's favor, generosity and bounty, for He has accepted the good that He already owns and bestowed, as a price from His faithful servants.

Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Qatadah commented,

"By Allah! Allah has purchased them and raised their worth."

Shimr bin Atiyyah said,

"There is not a Muslim but has on his neck a sale that he must conduct with Allah; he either fulfills its terms or dies without doing that."

He then recited this Ayah.

This is why those who fight in the cause of Allah are said to have conducted the sale with Allah, meaning, accepted and fulfilled his covenant.

Allah's statement,

يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ

They fight in Allah's cause, so they kill and are killed.

indicates that whether they were killed or they kill the enemy, or both, then Paradise will be theirs.

The Two Sahihs recorded the Hadith,

وَتَكَفَّلَ اللهُ لِمَنْ خَرَجَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَا يُخْرِجُهُ إِلاَّ جِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِي وَتَصْدِيقٌ بِرُسُلِي بِأَنْ تَوَفَّاهُ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ أَوْ يَرْجِعَهُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ الَّذِي خَرَجَ مِنْهُ نَايِلً مَا نَالَ مِنْ أَجْرٍ أَوْ غَنِيمَة

Allah has made a promise to the person who goes out (to fight) in His cause; `And nothing compels him to do so except Jihad in My Cause and belief in My Messengers.'

He will either be admitted to Paradise if he dies, or compensated by Allah, either with a reward or booty if He returns him to the home which he departed from.

Allah's statement,
.
وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالاِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْانِ

It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Tawrah and the Injil and the Qur'an.

affirms this promise and informs us that Allah has decreed this for His Most Honorable Self, and revealed it to His Messengers in His Glorious Books, the Tawrah that He sent down to Musa, the Injil that He sent down to Isa, and the Qur'an that was sent down to Muhammad, may Allah's peace and blessings be on them all.

Allah said next,

وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللّهِ

And who is truer to his covenant than Allah,

affirming that He never breaks a promise.

Allah said in similar statements,

وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَدِيثاً

And who is truer in statement than Allah, (4;87)

and,

وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ اللَّهِ قِيلً

And whose words can be truer than those of Allah. (4;122)

Allah said next,

فَاسْتَبْشِرُواْ بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُم بِهِ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ




Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success.

meaning, let those who fulfill the terms of this contract and uphold this covenant receive the good news of great success and everlasting delight