Surah Al-Baqarah 2:110
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 110 of 286
وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍۢ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ
Translation
Keep up the prayer and pay the prescribed alms. Whatever good you store up for yourselves, you will find it with God: He sees everything you do.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
For us to truly connect with Allah's words, it helps to pause and ponder the specific phrasing He chose. In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 110, Allah guides believers with clear instructions that speak deeply to our hearts and our future.
Establishing Devotion
The verse begins with two fundamental commands: "And establish prayer and give zakat" (وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ). Notice the choice of words. Allah doesn't just say "do" prayer or "give" charity. He uses *Aqimu* (أَقِيمُوا۟) for prayer, meaning "establish" or "make upright." This implies a commitment beyond mere performance, as scholars like al-Razi explain. It means observing prayer properly, with all its conditions and inner devotion, making it a firm pillar in one's life. Similarly, *Aatu* (ءَاتُوا۟) for zakat, which means "give what is due," emphasizes fulfilling this obligatory right with sincerity. Ibn Ashur notes how these commands for individual and communal good immediately follow earlier verses that called for patience in dealing with external challenges, balancing outer composure with inner spiritual strength.
Investing in Your Own Future
Allah then expands this to a universal principle: "And whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will find it with Allah" (وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍۢ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ). The word *tuqaddimu* (تُقَدِّمُوا۟), meaning "you send forth" or "you send ahead," beautifully frames good deeds as an investment for your future. This isn't just a casual act; it's a deliberate deposit. The phrase *li-anfusikum* (لِأَنفُسِكُم), "for yourselves," is particularly striking, reminding us that the ultimate beneficiary of every act of goodness, no matter how small, is our own soul. As al-Jalalayn and al-Zamakhshari affirm, "good" here encompasses all acts of obedience, from prayer and charity to kindness and connection. You won't find the *deeds themselves* with Allah, but rather their preserved reward and recompense, as al-Razi clarifies.
Allah's All-Encompassing Sight
The verse concludes with a powerful affirmation: "Indeed, Allah is All-Seeing of what you do" (إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ). The emphasizing particle *Inna* (إِنَّ) makes this statement certain. The Divine Name *Baseer* (بَصِيرٌۭ), the All-Seeing, confirms that nothing escapes Allah's notice. As Ibn Ashur and al-Zamakhshari explain, this seeing implies comprehensive knowledge, meaning Allah is fully aware of all your actions, big or small, public or private. Al-Razi adds that this is both an encouragement and a warning: it assures believers that even their slightest good deed will be seen and rewarded, while also subtly cautioning against any act that displeases Him. It's a profound reminder that our intentions and efforts are never lost in His sight.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:110 is discussed in 8 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Baqarah 2:110 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.