Transliteration:( Wa many yuslim wajha hooo ilal laahi wa huwa muhsinun faqadistamsaka bil'ur watil wusqaa; wa ilal laahi 'aaqibatul umoor )
"Therefore whoso submits his face towards Allah and is kind [50] to others, and then indeed, he has caught hold of a strong handle [51]. And towards Allah is the end [52] of all affairs."
This verse speaks of the one who surrenders his face to Allah—a metaphor for complete submission, sincerity, and humility in worship. The word "Islam" here refers to acts of worship, while "Ihsaan" signifies performing those acts with deep faith and presence of heart. Another interpretation is:
Islam: Faith in Allah
Ihsaan: Belief in the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ
Hence, true submission includes both acknowledging Allah as the Lord and accepting the final Prophet ﷺ. Merely believing in Allah while rejecting the Prophet ﷺ renders faith incomplete and invalid. This affirms the unity of belief and practice as the core of Islam.
This phrase, “he has caught hold of a strong handle,” is a metaphor for firm, unshakable faith. According to the Sufi sages, this strong handle is the Holy Prophet ﷺ, the rope of Allah that lifts a person from spiritual downfall to elevation—just like a bucket drawn out of a well by means of a rope.
The one who holds firmly to the Sunnah and the example of the Prophet ﷺ is saved from the confusion of misguidance and attains success. To be connected to the Prophet is to be connected to divine mercy and stability in faith.
The verse ends by reminding us that all matters eventually return to Allah—be it judgment, reward, or punishment. It implies:
The final authority is with Allah, not worldly systems
Every action will be presented before His court
Accountability is inevitable
This should inspire sincere submission, humble obedience, and constant remembrance of the ultimate destination.
In conclusion, this verse defines the path to success as sincere belief in Allah, faith in His Messenger, righteous conduct, and firm attachment to the prophetic way, all while being mindful that our return is to Allah alone.
22. And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allah, while he is a Muhsin, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold. And to Allah return all matters for decision. 23. And whoever disbelieves, let not his disbelief grieve you. To Us is their return, and We shall inform them what they have done. Verily, Allah is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts. 24. We let them enjoy for a little while, then in the end We shall oblige them to (enter) a great torment.) Allah tells us that whoever submits his face to Allah, i.e., does deeds sincerely for His sake, submits to His commandments and follows His Laws,
(while he is a Muhsin) i.e., doing what his Lord has commanded and abstaining from what He has forbidden,
(then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold.) means, he has received a firm promise from Allah that He will not punish him.
(And to Allah return all matters for decision. And whoever disbelieves, let not his disbelief grieve you.) means, `do not grieve over them, O Muhammad, because they disbelieve in Allah and in the Message you have brought, for their return will be to Allah and He will tell them what they used to do,’ i.e., He will punish them for it.
(Verily, Allah is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts.) and nothing whatsoever is hidden from Him. Then Allah says:
(We let them enjoy for a little while,) means, in this world,
(then in the end We shall oblige them) means, `We shall cause them,’
(to (enter) a great torment.) means, a torment that is terrifying and difficult to bear. This is like the Ayah,
(“Verily, those who invent a lie against Allah, will never be successful.” Enjoyment in this world! and then unto Us will be their return, then We shall make them taste the severest torment because they used to disbelieve.) (10:69-70)
(31:22) Whoever surrenders himself to Allah[40] and lives righteously[41] grasps the most firm handle.[42] The ultimate decision of all matters rests with Allah.
40. That is, practically also he should adopt the attitude of an obedient servant of Allah.
41. That is, he will neither have the apprehension that he will be misguided, nor the fear that he will meet an evil end after having served Allah.
42. This means to say, “O Prophet, the one who refuses to listen to you, thinks that by rejecting Islam and insisting on unbelief he has harmed you, but in fact he has not harmed you but harmed only himself. If he does not listen to you, you need not bother yourself about him at all.”
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