﴿ أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِن رَّبِّهِمْ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴾
This verse concludes the description of the true believers (Ayahs 3–5). After listing their qualities, Allah declares their spiritual status and their final outcome.
1. Meaning of “Those are upon guidance from their Lord”
﴿ أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ﴾
Ibn Kathīr explains:
a. “Upon guidance” implies firmness, stability, and elevation
The phrase “ʿalā hudā” (upon guidance) is powerful:
- They are mounted upon guidance,
- supported by Allah,
- firmly established upon truth,
- moving forward with clarity and certainty.
The use of the preposition عَلَى (“upon”) indicates:
- strength
- elevation
- stability
- being carried by guidance, not merely possessing it
b. Guidance is a gift from Allah
Ibn Kathīr emphasizes the phrase “from their Lord”:
The guidance they have is not from themselves, their intellect, their desires, or their culture — it is a pure gift from Allah.
Guidance is:
- granted by Allah
- sustained by Allah
- increased by Allah
- and protected by Allah
c. Guidance corresponds to the qualities listed earlier
Because they:
- believed in the unseen
- established prayer
- spent from their wealth
- believed in all revelation
- held certainty in the Hereafter
→ Allah guides them to the straight path.
2. Levels of Guidance in Qur’an According to Ibn Kathīr
Ibn Kathīr explains that guidance (hudā) has levels:
1. Guidance of Clarification (Bayān)
- Allah shows the path through revelation.
2. Guidance of Success (Tawfīq)
- Allah opens the heart and gives strength to follow the truth.
The believers described here have both types of guidance.
3. Meaning of “These are the successful”
﴿ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴾
Ibn Kathīr says:
a. Al-Mufliḥūn = people who attain every good and are saved from every evil
In Arabic, falāḥ means:
- obtaining what you seek
- and being saved from what you fear
Thus, al-mufliḥūn are:
- winners
- saved
- secure
- prosperous
- triumphant in this world and the next
Success here is absolute success, not partial.
b. Success refers especially to the Hereafter
Ibn Kathīr:
- Real success is entering Paradise
- Real loss is entering Hell
Anything else called “success” is temporary and superficial.
c. Why Allah uses exclusive particles “humu”
The phrase:
هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
(MEANING: they are the successful)
The particle هُمُ is for exclusivity.
Meaning:
- No one else truly succeeds except these people
- Those lacking these qualities cannot achieve eternal success
4. Structure of the verses (3–5): Ibn Kathīr’s thematic summary
Ibn Kathīr shows how these verses form a complete profile:
AYAH 3 — Faith in the unseen, prayer, charity
➡️ internal faith, bodily worship, financial worship
AYAH 4 — Belief in all revelation and certainty in the Hereafter
➡️ correct creed and complete trust in divine truth
AYAH 5 — Result: Guidance + Success
➡️ Allah guarantees them both in this world and the next
This logical progression highlights:
- Belief → Action → Divine assistance → Salvation
5. Narrations Ibn Kathīr mentions
He cites:
- Ibn ‘Abbās,
- Mujāhid,
- Qatādah,
- Al-Suddī,
- Abū al-‘Āliyah,
- and many early exegetes.
All of them agree that:
- Guidance is from Allah
- Success is eternal reward
- These verses define the top category of humanity: the believers who follow revelation truly
6. Spiritual reflection
Ibn Kathīr underscores:
- Guidance is not self-made
- Success is not worldly gain
- The believer who fulfills these qualities lives with clarity, peace, purpose, and Allah’s support
This is the highest form of human achievement.
About The Author
