Transliteration:( Wa maaa amwaalukum wa laaa awlaadukum billatee tuqarribukum 'indanaa zulfaaa illaa man aamana wa 'amila saalihan fa ulaaa'ika lahum jazaaa'ud di'fi bimaa 'amiloo wa hum fil ghurufaati aaminoon )
"And neither your wealth, nor your children [111] can bring you near Us in ranks, but those who believe and remain righteous [112] will have double reward [113] for their deeds [114], and they shall be secure in lofty mansions."
This verse addresses the false confidence of the disbelievers who assumed that worldly status, wealth, or influential children could save them or elevate them spiritually. Allah makes it absolutely clear: nearness to Him is not earned through family or fortune, but through faith and righteousness.
Even a child of a Prophet cannot be saved without personal belief, and a righteous child cannot intercede for a disbelieving parent, unless Allah allows. Hence, no worldly link can substitute for spiritual merit.
What does bring a person close to Allah is Īmān (faith) and Taqwā (righteous conduct). This includes sincerity in belief, humility, worship, and upright actions. Merely possessing blessings without gratitude or correct use of them has no value in Allah’s sight.
Even wealth and children can serve as means to gain nearness, but only if they are used in obedience to Allah, such as spending in charity or raising children with good character and belief.
Believers who perform righteous deeds benefit in multiple ways. Not only do they get the reward for their own actions, but also for the piety they nurtured in others—like their children or students. This is why a believer's good legacy continues to benefit him or her even after death.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ himself benefits from the piety of his Ummah, as he laid the foundation for the garden of faith and good deeds. All righteous acts are ultimately traces of his efforts, and hence, elevate his rank.
There are direct deeds, like personal acts of worship, and indirect deeds, like the impact one leaves behind through teaching, parenting, or building good institutions. This verse affirms that both are recognized by Allah, and both lead to spiritual reward and elevation.
Those who excel in these ways will not only be rewarded, but also granted security and honor in the lofty chambers of Paradise.
The tafsir of Surah Saba verse 37 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Saba ayat 34 which provides the complete commentary from verse 34 through 38.
(34:37) It is not your riches nor your children that make you near-stationed to Us, except for him who has faith and acts righteously;[57] it is they who will receive double the recompense for their deeds. They shall live in lofty mansions in perfect peace.[58]
57 This can have two meanings and both are correct:
(1) That which brings the people nearer to Allah is not wealth and children but faith and righteous deeds; and,
(2) wealth and children can become a means of nearness to Allah only for that believing, righteous person, who spends his wealth in the way of Allah and tries to make his children God-conscious and righteous by good education and training.
58. Here also is a subtle allusion that their blessing shall be imperishable, and their reward endless. For one cannot enjoy with full satisfaction of the heart a reward which is likely to perish or withdrawn suddenly at any time.
For a faster and smoother experience,
install our mobile app now.
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics