Note: The following transcript was generated using AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their souls and their wealth because for them is Paradise. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ.
All praise is due to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon His final messenger, Muhammad ﷺ.
We praise Allah subḥānahu wa taʿālā as He deserves to be praised. He is praiseworthy.
Allah subḥānahu wa taʿālā mentions in His Book a group of people who have sacrificed their lives and the things they love for His sake. He describes them as those who have sold themselves for Allah subḥānahu wa taʿālā, desiring that which is with Him.
Today, we're going to look at these verses, analyze how Allah describes these people, try to benefit from their characteristics, and aim to implement their qualities so that, by Allah’s will, we may be granted similar praise.
The first verse is in Surah al-Baqarah, where Allah subḥānahu wa taʿālā, after discussing the hypocrites—those who claimed to love Allah and His Messenger while harboring disbelief in their hearts—mentions a different group of people.
These hypocrites, when away from the Messenger ﷺ, would engage in sin and cause destruction in the world.
But then Allah describes a group who, not only obey Him, but have sold themselves for His sake. Allah ʿazza wa jall says in Surah al-Baqarah:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ “And of the people is he who sells himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is kind to the servants.” [2:207]
Subḥānallāh – yashrī nafsahu – he sold his self for Allah. He sacrificed everything for the sake of Allah.
Why? Ibtighāʾa marḍātillāh – seeking Allah’s approval.
This sacrifice can take many forms:
- Giving sadaqah is sacrificing wealth for the sake of Allah.
- Putting time into ʿibādah is sacrificing one’s time for Allah.
- Fasting, enduring pain or difficulty in worship – all of this is done for Allah subḥānahu wa taʿālā.
Allah praises them: وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ And Allah is Raʾūf—kind, compassionate—with His servants.
These people will receive something special—perhaps their deeds will be multiplied. Allah certainly appreciates the sacrifices they've made.
What’s interesting is that this verse has a story behind it.
Some scholars say the cause of revelation (sabab an-nuzūl) of this verse was the story of Suḥayb ar-Rūmī.
Suḥayb accepted Islam while in Makkah. Later, when the Prophet ﷺ and the companions had migrated to Madinah, Suḥayb wanted to join them.
The Quraysh stopped him. They said: "You came to us a poor man, and you gained wealth through business here among us. We will not allow you to leave with your wealth."
What did Suḥayb say? He said: "Take my wealth. I don’t care. Just allow me to migrate to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ."
And they did. He gave up everything—his money, business, comfort—and traveled to Madinah.
He had no idea that a verse from the Qur'an would be revealed about his action, nor that he would be praised by the Prophet ﷺ himself.
When Suḥayb arrived in Madinah, he found the companions waiting for him, saying: “Rabiḥal-bayʿ! Rabiḥal-bayʿ!” “You have succeeded in your transaction!”
He was confused—why are they saying this? What transaction?
The Prophet ﷺ had informed them that Allah had revealed this verse about Suḥayb.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ “And of the people is he who sells himself seeking the pleasure of Allah…”
Subḥānallāh.
This teaches us something profound: Sometimes we do a good deed, make a sacrifice, and think no one sees it. But Allah sees it.
Maybe Allah is pleased with you, and you have no idea. Just like Suḥayb. He did it purely for Allah, not expecting fame or praise—but Allah praised him.
So never think your sacrifice is small, or that it's unnoticed. Allah subḥānahu wa taʿālā appreciates what you do.
Just like Suḥayb, you may have already succeeded in a great transaction with Allah without even realizing it.
So always be sincere. Always have ḥusn aẓ-ẓann—a good opinion—of Allah subḥānahu wa taʿālā.
That is the first verse, in Surah al-Baqarah.
The next verse in Surah Fatir, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala describes good deeds, and the doers of these good deeds, how they are seeking a transaction with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً
What about them? Because we have the start of the verse saying "Inna." So:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ
So they recite the Book of Allah — fine. وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ — they establish prayer — okay. وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ — they spend from that which We have given them. مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ — from that which We have given them, not everything that We have given them, some of what We have given them.
وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً What about them?
يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ — seeking a profit from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala that will never end, okay. Seeking a profit from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala — تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ — that will never lose. A transaction that they know, sincerely, they know certainly that they will never lose out with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ
And then the next verse, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said:
لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ
So He will even increase them from His bounty, subhanahu wa ta'ala. So they did this for the sake of Allah, they wanted reward from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, Allah azza wa jal has accepted this from them, has accepted this transaction. He has given them the reward.
But dealing with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, you never get only that which you intended. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala gives you more than that.
لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ — He gave them their rewards. وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ — He even increased them in rewards from Him, subhanahu wa ta'ala, from His bounty — وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ
And then He ended the verse with two of His names that reflect the meaning of this verse:
إِنَّهُ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ Indeed, He is Al-Ghafoor and Ash-Shakoor.
And Ghafoor and Shakoor, two of His names — if you look at the form of these names, it is in the form of fa'ool, which signifies strength. So His forgiveness is strong — no matter how big your sins are, His forgiveness is stronger.
And He, subhanahu wa ta'ala, said: Shakoor, Ghafoorun Shakoor — Shakoor: a person, one who appreciates. Shakoor — one who appreciates, but Shakoor — it's way stronger. Not only will He give you, He will appreciate this, but He will reward you much, much, much more than what you have given Him.
So Allah azza wa jal mentions these two names — that even if you guys are lacking, even if you are sinners — if you do something for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala:
- He forgives your sins, regardless of who you are
- And He gives you much more than what you have given Him, subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Surah At-Tawbah: A Transaction with Allah
Now the next verse is one of the most beautiful verses which is in Surat At-Tawbah, which really makes you feel that this is a transaction between the servant and Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, in the sense that Allah azawajal said that these are the people who have sold themselves for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرَىٰ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُم Inna Allaha ishtara minal mu’mineena anfusahum wa amwalahum
Indeed, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has bought—has purchased from the believers—their souls, anfusahum, and their wealth, amwalahum.
What will they get?
بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ Bi-anna lahumul jannah
They will get Paradise from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
The Wisdom of al-Hasan al-Basri
And here al-Hasan al-Basri said: Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala indeed has purchased them, and He has raised their worth. Because in reality, we're replacing this limited life with Paradise. Purchasing our souls—in reality—it is obeying Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, living your life obeying Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, following the Messenger Muhammad ﷺ, and Allah azawajal will replace you with another life in Paradise—a life which is complete. You don't get tired. You enjoy everything that Allah azawajal gives you. And whatever Allah gives to you will be yours forever—unlike this dunya.
Whatever Allah azawajal has given you in Paradise, you’ll be able to enjoy it to the fullest, unlike this dunya where you get tired, you sleep, you might get sick. Once a person gets sick, no matter what he has, he cannot enjoy anything. So that's the difference.
So Allah azawajal said:
بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ Bi-anna lahumul jannah
Striving in Allah’s Path
And then He describes some of their actions. These are the people who fought and strived for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala:
يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ Yuqatiloona fee sabeelillah fayaqtuloona wa yuqtaloon
They fight for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala; they kill and they get killed. So either way, they get the reward of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ Wa'dan 'alayhi haqqan fee attawrati wal injeeli wal quran
It is a promise, a covenant given by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala that is stated in the Tawrah (Book of Musa), in the Injeel (Book of Isa), and in the Qur’an (Book of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ). All of these books, Allah azawajal has stated this.
And moreover, Allah azawajal says:
وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ Wa man awfa bi 'ahdihi min Allah
Who is truer in his promise than Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala?
فَاسْتَبْشِرُوا بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُم بِهِ Fastabshiroo bi bay’ikum allathee bayaa’tum bih
Be happy, rejoice with this transaction, with what Allah azawajal is going to be giving you.
وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ Wadhalika huwa al-fawz al-‘azim
And that indeed is the great success.
Who Are These People?
Now one might say this is only for the people who fight for the sake of Allah, because Allah azawajal said:
يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ...
But look at the next verse. A person might ask, who are these people?
Allah azawajal then says:
التَّائِبُونَ — those who repent الْعَابِدُونَ — those who worship Allah الْحَامِدُونَ — those who praise Allah السَّائِحُونَ — those who fast for the sake of Allah الرَّاكِعُونَ السَّاجِدُونَ — those who bow and prostrate in prayer الْآمِرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّاهُونَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ — those who command good and forbid evil وَالْحَافِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ اللَّهِ — those who observe the limits of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
And then at the end of the verse, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said:
وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ Wa bashshir al-mu’mineen
And give good tidings to the believers. End of the day, it is for the believers—this is a transaction for the believers. Selling themselves for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, and in return, you are going to be getting Paradise.
Sacrificing for Allah
Always remember this: there is always a way back. You are sacrificing yourself, you are sacrificing your free time, and at the end of the day, it is not something difficult. You enjoy your life being a Muslim. You are living in the paradise of this world before experiencing the paradise of the hereafter. The paradise of this world—living, remembering Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, being happy with the word of Allah—the Qur’an, rejoicing with the promises that Allah azawajal gives you in this Qur’an.
Two Promises: One from Shaytan, One from Allah
And of course, then we move to the next verse, where Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala mentions two promises: A promise from the shaytan—the worst of all liars, And a promise from Asdaqu al-Sadiqeen—the Most Truthful.
The promise of the worst of liars is the promise of the devil. Allah azawajal says in Surah al-Baqarah:
الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِالْفَحْشَاءِ Ash-shaytanu ya’idukumu al-faqra wa ya’murukum bil-fahsha’
The devil—what does he promise you?
الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ Ash-shaytanu ya’idukumu al-faqr
He promises you what? Poverty. He scares you with poverty, he scares you with the dunya. You want to do something for the sake of Allah, the shaytan comes to you and says, Don’t spend for the sake of Allah, you're going to get poor, you're going to lose your wealth.
This is the promise of the shaytan:
وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِالْفَحْشَاءِ
He commands you with fahsha’, with immorality.
What does it mean in this context? Not to spend for the sake of Allah. Spend in sins, spend in things that are haram, invest your money in haram.
The Promise of Allah
But what about Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala?
وَاللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةً مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًا Wallahu ya’idukum maghfiratan minhu wa fadla
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala promises you forgiveness and a bounty from Him.
وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And then He mentions something of the greatest of all gifts:
يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَاءُ Yu’til hikmata man yasha’
He gives wisdom to whomever He wills.
وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا
And whoever is given wisdom has been given great good.
What Is Hikmah?
Ibn Abbas and many of the tabi’een, when they explained this verse, they said: al-hikmah is the understanding of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Some of them said: even the understanding of the Qur’an. It’s basically understanding your religion, having beneficial knowledge. This is something that no one can give you except Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Yu’til hikmata man yasha’ wa man yu’tal hikmata faqad ootiya khayran katheera
And:
وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
No one will appreciate this, no one will understand the value of this blessing except those who have sane minds.
Closing Reminder
So Allah azawajal gives you something that is special. Sacrifice for Him subhanahu wa ta'ala, He will bless you.
And remember:
وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ Wa man awfa bi ‘ahdihi min Allah
Who is more truthful in his promise than Allah?
And remember that Allah azawajal will give you more than what you have given Him. Remember:
وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
He is Forgiving and Shakoor—He appreciates the good deeds, He multiplies your good deeds, and He gives you more than what you have given Him.
And remember the promise of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. There is another promise—the promise of the devil—that might tell you: Don’t do something for the Akhirah, think about your dunya, think about your future.
Ignore him.
And look at the promise of Allah: Allah promises you forgiveness in this world and fadl—bounty from Him—in the hereafter. And also, He will give you wisdom in this world, which is the understanding of this religion, which will make you live in the paradise of this world before the paradise of the hereafter.
Wa hadha wallahu a’lam. Wa sallallahu ‘ala nabiyyina Muhammad, wa ‘ala aalihi wa sahbihi wa sallam.
