Surah Maryam 19:96
سُورَةُ مَرۡيَمَ · Meccan · Verse 96 of 98
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ وُدًّۭا
Translation
But the Lord of Mercy will give love to those who believe and do righteous deeds:
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
Surah Maryam, verse 96, speaks directly to those who have embraced faith and acted righteously, offering them a profound promise from Allah. It is a verse of immense consolation and hope, following the descriptions of those who reject faith.
A Promise of Love
The heart of this verse lies in the word "وُدًّا" (wudda), which signifies profound love, affection, and endearment. As Mahmud Safi's *al-Jadwal* explains, this is a verbal noun from the root verb "wadda," meaning "to love." The verse promises that Allah will "make" or "create" this love. Scholars like Al-Zamakhshari and Al-Razi clarify that this isn't a love earned through human effort or social engineering, like building friendships or family ties. Instead, it is an "invented" love, a special favor directly from Allah, given to His sincere allies. This love can manifest in various ways: Allah Himself loves them, angels love them, and Allah instills love for them in the hearts of other righteous people, as mentioned by Al-Jalalayn and Ibn Ashur. It's a comprehensive, all-encompassing affection that surrounds them.
The Giver: Ar-Rahman
The choice of Allah's Divine Name "الرَّحْمَٰنُ" (Ar-Rahman) in this promise is deeply significant. It means "The Most Merciful" or "The Entirely Merciful." When this Name is used, it highlights that the gift being bestowed is an act of immense, boundless mercy and compassion from Allah. This love is not a mere transaction for deeds; it is a profound outpouring of divine grace. It assures believers that this incredible gift of widespread affection is rooted in Allah's overwhelming benevolence.
A Future Certainty
The Arabic letter "س" (sa) at the beginning of "سَيَجْعَلُ" (sayaj'alu), meaning "He will make," is crucial. It denotes a definite future occurrence, transforming the promise into an assured certainty. Al-Zamakhshari and Al-Razi discuss that this promise might unfold in this worldly life, especially as Islam spreads and believers gain respect, or it could be a reward on the Day of Judgment, where their good deeds are revealed, and Allah's creation is made to love them. Regardless of the exact timing, the "sa" emphasizes that this promise is not hypothetical; it *will* come to pass for those who sincerely believe and act righteously. It is an unfailing guarantee from the Most Merciful.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Maryam 19:96 is discussed in 9 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Maryam 19:96 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.