سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 105
وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِى ٱلزَّبُورِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلذِّكْرِ أَنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِىَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ ﴿105﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed We have written in Az-Zabûr [i.e. all the revealed Holy Books - the Taurât (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Psalms, the Qur’ân,] after (We have already written in) Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz (the Book that is in the heaven with Allâh), that My righteous slaves shall inherit the land (i.e. the land of Paradise).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And verily
كَتَبْنَا
katabnā
We have written
فِى
fī
in
ٱلزَّبُورِ
l-zabūri
the Scripture
مِنۢ
min
after
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
ٱلذِّكْرِ
l-dhik'ri
the mention
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱلْأَرْضَ
l-arḍa
the earth
يَرِثُهَا
yarithuhā
will inherit it
عِبَادِىَ
ʿibādiya
My slaves
ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ
l-ṣāliḥūna
the righteous
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
And We have already written in the Psalms, after the Reminder, that My righteous servants shall inherit the earth [93].
[93]
The New Interpretation of the Righteous: Earthly Succession and the Discussion of the Righteous:
Some admirers of the West have presented a very incorrect interpretation of the meaning of this verse. In this verse, they do not take "the righteous" to mean Allah’s obedient and fortunate servants, but rather, in their view, "the righteous" refers to those who possess capability. That is, whoever is ruling over the earth at this time or has the capability to rule, they alone are righteous in the sight of Allah, even if they are immoral, disbelievers, or even deniers of the existence of Allah. This view is entirely contrary to the overall teachings of the Book and Sunnah. Whereas in this verse and the preceding verses, the Hereafter and Paradise are being mentioned. The meaning is that only those who are obedient to Allah and righteous can be the inheritors of Paradise and the land of Paradise. This meaning is also supported by the following verse from Surah Az-Zumar: ﴿وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ صَدَقَنَا وَعْدَهٗ وَاَوْرَثَنَا الْاَرْضَ نَتَبَوَّاُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ نَشَاءُ﴾ [74: 39] “And the people of Paradise will say: All praise is due to Allah, Who has fulfilled His promise to us and made us inherit the land; we may dwell in Paradise wherever we wish.” As for the inheritance of this world, it is stated: ﴿اِنَّ الاَرْضَ نُوْرِِثُهَا مَنْ نَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ﴾ [7: 128] “The earth belongs to Allah alone; He gives its inheritance to whomever He wills among His servants.” Thus, it is not necessary that the inheritance of the present world’s land is given only to the righteous; rather, the immoral and wicked can also seize it. However, Allah’s promise is certainly that those believers who are true and sincere in their claim of faith and in doing righteous deeds, Allah grants them success in the battle between truth and falsehood.
Conditions for Earthly Succession:
As He said: ﴿وَاَنْتُمُ الْاَعْلَوْنَ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِيْنَ﴾ [3: 139] “And if you are believers (in your words and deeds), you will be victorious.” And regarding such people, Allah has said: ﴿وَعَدَ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْاَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾ [24: 55] “Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession in the land as He granted it to those before them.” That is, Allah’s promise of rulership is not for so-called Muslims, but the promise of earthly succession is for true believers and obedient ones, who, after gaining power, do not become worldly rulers, but rather establish Allah’s system of Caliphate on Allah’s earth.
[93]
The New Interpretation of the Righteous: Earthly Succession and the Discussion of the Righteous:
Some admirers of the West have presented a very incorrect interpretation of the meaning of this verse. In this verse, they do not take "the righteous" to mean Allah’s obedient and fortunate servants, but rather, in their view, "the righteous" refers to those who possess capability. That is, whoever is ruling over the earth at this time or has the capability to rule, they alone are righteous in the sight of Allah, even if they are immoral, disbelievers, or even deniers of the existence of Allah. This view is entirely contrary to the overall teachings of the Book and Sunnah. Whereas in this verse and the preceding verses, the Hereafter and Paradise are being mentioned. The meaning is that only those who are obedient to Allah and righteous can be the inheritors of Paradise and the land of Paradise. This meaning is also supported by the following verse from Surah Az-Zumar: ﴿وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ صَدَقَنَا وَعْدَهٗ وَاَوْرَثَنَا الْاَرْضَ نَتَبَوَّاُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ نَشَاءُ﴾ [74: 39] “And the people of Paradise will say: All praise is due to Allah, Who has fulfilled His promise to us and made us inherit the land; we may dwell in Paradise wherever we wish.” As for the inheritance of this world, it is stated: ﴿اِنَّ الاَرْضَ نُوْرِِثُهَا مَنْ نَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ﴾ [7: 128] “The earth belongs to Allah alone; He gives its inheritance to whomever He wills among His servants.” Thus, it is not necessary that the inheritance of the present world’s land is given only to the righteous; rather, the immoral and wicked can also seize it. However, Allah’s promise is certainly that those believers who are true and sincere in their claim of faith and in doing righteous deeds, Allah grants them success in the battle between truth and falsehood.
Conditions for Earthly Succession:
As He said: ﴿وَاَنْتُمُ الْاَعْلَوْنَ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِيْنَ﴾ [3: 139] “And if you are believers (in your words and deeds), you will be victorious.” And regarding such people, Allah has said: ﴿وَعَدَ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْاَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾ [24: 55] “Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession in the land as He granted it to those before them.” That is, Allah’s promise of rulership is not for so-called Muslims, but the promise of earthly succession is for true believers and obedient ones, who, after gaining power, do not become worldly rulers, but rather establish Allah’s system of Caliphate on Allah’s earth.
