سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 100
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى تَحْتَهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ﴿100﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And the foremost to embrace Islâm of the Muhâjirûn (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansâr (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhâjirûn ) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allâh is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ
wal-sābiqūna
And the forerunners
ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ
l-awalūna
the first
مِنَ
mina
among
ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ
l-muhājirīna
the emigrants
وَٱلْأَنصَارِ
wal-anṣāri
and the helpers
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
and those who
ٱتَّبَعُوهُم
ittabaʿūhum
followed them
بِإِحْسَـٰنٍۢ
bi-iḥ'sānin
in righteousness
رَّضِىَ
raḍiya
Allah is pleased
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah is pleased
عَنْهُمْ
ʿanhum
with them
وَرَضُوا۟
waraḍū
and they are pleased
عَنْهُ
ʿanhu
with Him
وَأَعَدَّ
wa-aʿadda
And He has prepared
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
جَنَّـٰتٍۢ
jannātin
Gardens
تَجْرِى
tajrī
flows
تَحْتَهَا
taḥtahā
underneath it
ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ
l-anhāru
the rivers
خَـٰلِدِينَ
khālidīna
will abide
فِيهَآ
fīhā
in it
أَبَدًۭا ۚ
abadan
forever
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
ٱلْفَوْزُ
l-fawzu
(is) the success
ٱلْعَظِيمُ
l-ʿaẓīmu
the great
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.
100. The first and foremost of the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them in the best manner [112], Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. Allah has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the supreme success.
[112]
The Earliest Muhajir and Ansar Companions and Their Names:
Among men, the very first to embrace faith was Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). Among women, it was Sayyidah Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her). Among boys, Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and among slaves, Sayyiduna Zaid bin Harithah (may Allah be pleased with him). Except for Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), all the rest were members of the Prophet’s ﷺ household. Then, through the efforts of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), those who embraced faith were: Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Zubair bin Awwam (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him), and Sayyiduna Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him). After them, many people became Muslim, and all of these are the earliest Muhajirin and the forerunners. And among the Ansar, the forerunners and earliest were those five individuals who first pledged allegiance at the night of Aqabah, namely: Hazrat Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him), ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him), Rafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him), Qutbah (may Allah be pleased with him), and Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him). Then, those who pledged allegiance at the second Aqabah were twelve individuals. Then, at the third Aqabah, seventy individuals pledged allegiance. And all of these had embraced Islam before the Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ. By ﴿السابقون الاولون﴾ is meant those early Muslims who supported Islam and the Messenger of Islam in every hardship and difficulty until Allah’s word was exalted. Now, it is evident that those Muslims who endured the severe persecutions of the disbelievers and polytheists should have a higher rank than ordinary Muslims, and accordingly, they are more deserving of reward and elevated ranks in the sight of Allah. However, there is much difference among the scholars regarding their identification. According to some, it refers to those Muslims who accepted Islam before the Prophet’s ﷺ migration. According to others, it refers to those Muslims who prayed facing both Qiblahs (Bayt al-Maqdis and the Ka’bah). According to some, the forerunners are those Muslims up to the Battle of Badr. Some extend this circle up to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, and according to others, all the Muhajirin and Ansar, the Muslims of the surrounding areas, are considered the forerunners in relation to the generations that came after them. And in terms of meaning, there is no contradiction in all these statements because precedence and primacy are relative matters. Therefore, the same person (or group) can be a forerunner in one respect and a follower in another.
The Identification of the Sabiqun al-Awwalun:
In our view, by the forerunners are meant the Muslims up to the Battle of Badr, because after the victory at Badr, Islam became a force to be reckoned with, and, secondly, the spoils of war strengthened the Muslims’ economy. Or, at the most, this circle can be extended up to the conquest of Khaybar, when the emigrants from Abyssinia had also returned, and the economic condition of the Muslims had improved to the extent that they returned the date-palm trees they had borrowed from the Ansar. The later Muslims did not have to endure the hardships faced by the earlier Muslims, nor did they face economic difficulties.
[113]
The Virtue of the Tabi‘in:
Just as there is a difference regarding the identification of the earliest forerunners, there is also a difference regarding the followers, because whatever limit we set for the forerunners, from that point onward the followers will begin. According to some, it refers to the remaining Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), according to others, the Tabi‘in are also included among them, and according to some, the followers of the Tabi‘in and all Muslims until the Day of Judgment are included, provided that they remain steadfast upon the way of the earliest forerunners, that is, they adhere to the Book and Sunnah, perform righteous deeds, and follow them with utmost sincerity.
[112]
The Earliest Muhajir and Ansar Companions and Their Names:
Among men, the very first to embrace faith was Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). Among women, it was Sayyidah Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her). Among boys, Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and among slaves, Sayyiduna Zaid bin Harithah (may Allah be pleased with him). Except for Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), all the rest were members of the Prophet’s ﷺ household. Then, through the efforts of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), those who embraced faith were: Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Zubair bin Awwam (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him), and Sayyiduna Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him). After them, many people became Muslim, and all of these are the earliest Muhajirin and the forerunners. And among the Ansar, the forerunners and earliest were those five individuals who first pledged allegiance at the night of Aqabah, namely: Hazrat Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him), ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him), Rafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him), Qutbah (may Allah be pleased with him), and Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him). Then, those who pledged allegiance at the second Aqabah were twelve individuals. Then, at the third Aqabah, seventy individuals pledged allegiance. And all of these had embraced Islam before the Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ. By ﴿السابقون الاولون﴾ is meant those early Muslims who supported Islam and the Messenger of Islam in every hardship and difficulty until Allah’s word was exalted. Now, it is evident that those Muslims who endured the severe persecutions of the disbelievers and polytheists should have a higher rank than ordinary Muslims, and accordingly, they are more deserving of reward and elevated ranks in the sight of Allah. However, there is much difference among the scholars regarding their identification. According to some, it refers to those Muslims who accepted Islam before the Prophet’s ﷺ migration. According to others, it refers to those Muslims who prayed facing both Qiblahs (Bayt al-Maqdis and the Ka’bah). According to some, the forerunners are those Muslims up to the Battle of Badr. Some extend this circle up to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, and according to others, all the Muhajirin and Ansar, the Muslims of the surrounding areas, are considered the forerunners in relation to the generations that came after them. And in terms of meaning, there is no contradiction in all these statements because precedence and primacy are relative matters. Therefore, the same person (or group) can be a forerunner in one respect and a follower in another.
The Identification of the Sabiqun al-Awwalun:
In our view, by the forerunners are meant the Muslims up to the Battle of Badr, because after the victory at Badr, Islam became a force to be reckoned with, and, secondly, the spoils of war strengthened the Muslims’ economy. Or, at the most, this circle can be extended up to the conquest of Khaybar, when the emigrants from Abyssinia had also returned, and the economic condition of the Muslims had improved to the extent that they returned the date-palm trees they had borrowed from the Ansar. The later Muslims did not have to endure the hardships faced by the earlier Muslims, nor did they face economic difficulties.
[113]
The Virtue of the Tabi‘in:
Just as there is a difference regarding the identification of the earliest forerunners, there is also a difference regarding the followers, because whatever limit we set for the forerunners, from that point onward the followers will begin. According to some, it refers to the remaining Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), according to others, the Tabi‘in are also included among them, and according to some, the followers of the Tabi‘in and all Muslims until the Day of Judgment are included, provided that they remain steadfast upon the way of the earliest forerunners, that is, they adhere to the Book and Sunnah, perform righteous deeds, and follow them with utmost sincerity.
