Transliteration:( Innal lazeena aamanu wa 'amilus saalihaati ula-ika hum khairul bareey yah )
Those who adhere strictly to Islamic laws and perform righteous deeds according to their capacity attain a status superior to all creation, including angels, jinn, and celestial beings. Their excellence is rooted in divine favor and the eternal rewards reserved for them:
Manifestations of Their Nobility
Paradise as Their Eternal Abode:
Allah created Paradise for the Muttaqeen (pious believers), who will behold His Divine Countenance (Ru’yatullah), the ultimate bliss.
Quranic Affirmation:
جَزَاؤُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا رَّضِيَ اللَّـهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ
“Their reward with their Lord is Gardens of Eternity, beneath which rivers flow, where they will abide forever. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him.”
(Surah Al-Bayyinah 98:8)
Angelic Intercession:
Angels carrying the Throne (Hamalat al-Arsh) and those surrounding it pray for the forgiveness and elevation of believers.
Cosmic Mourning:
The heavens and earth weep upon the death of a righteous believer, reflecting their profound spiritual impact on creation.
Examples of Pious Deeds
Sacrifice of Sleep: Hazrat Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) sacrificed his rest to protect the Prophet (ﷺ) during the Hijra.
Sacrifice in Battle: Hazrat Ali (رضي الله عنه) offered his shield at Khaibar when no one else dared.
Rejection of Disbelief: Abu Umayyah Zamri’s refusal to utter words of kufr under persecution.
Evil Deeds for Contrast:
Hypocrites (Munafiqun) reciting the Kalimah insincerely or building the Masjid al-Dirar to divide Muslims.
1. Believers vs. Angels: A Hierarchy of Honor
Ordinary Believers > Ordinary Angels: Humans, despite their flaws, surpass angels through free will and moral struggle (jihad al-nafs).
Elite Believers > Elite Angels: Prophets and saints (e.g., Khulafa ar-Rashideen) exceed even archangels in rank due to their role as Allah’s vicegerents (khalifah).
Quranic Basis:
وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ
“We have certainly honored the children of Adam.”
(Surah Al-Isra 17:70)
2. Human Deeds: The Path to Paradise
Exclusivity of Paradise: While angels and jinn worship Allah, Paradise is uniquely promised to righteous humans, underscoring the value of their deeds.
Quranic Clarification:
لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ
“Each soul earns only what it is due.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286)
3. Nobility Through Piety, Not Lineage
No Believer is “Mean”: A pious believer, regardless of worldly status, is the noblest creation. Conversely, a disbeliever—even a king—is debased.
Hadith Reinforcement:
“Allah does not look at your appearances or wealth, but at your hearts and deeds.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Righteous believers embody the pinnacle of creation, transcending celestial beings through sincere worship and moral excellence. Their deeds—rooted in love for Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ)—earn them a nearness to the Divine that even angels envy. Conversely, hypocrisy and arrogance degrade humans below the lowest creatures. Thus, true nobility lies not in lineage or power but in taqwa (God-consciousness) and submission to Allah’s will.
Final Reflection:
إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّـهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ
“The most noble among you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous.”
(Surah Al-Hujurat 49:13)
The tafsir of Surah Bayyinah verse 7 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Bayyinah ayat 6 which provides the complete commentary from verse 6 through 8.
(98:7) But those that believe and work righteous deeds, they are the best of creatures.[10]
10. That is, they are superior to all creatures of God, evento the angels, for the angels do not have the power todisobey, and these people adopt Allah’s obedience in spiteof having the power to disobey Him.
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