Calling to Allah · Quran topic

Glad Tidings

البشرى · Bushra

How divine announcements of joy illuminate the hearts of believers in this life and the next.

99 verses · 7 parts · 9 min read

Study guide based on

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

«البشرى» · Volume 4

At a glance

In the Quran, glad tidings (al-bushra) are divine announcements of joyful news that bring delight to the heart and visibly brighten the face. Derived from the word for the surface of the skin, a true tidings of joy naturally spreads through a person's demeanor, reflecting relief, happiness, and inner peace.

Allah sends these tidings to encourage His servants, soothe their anxieties, and anchor their hearts in hope. While warnings exist to avert harm, the overwhelming majority of Quranic tidings celebrate faith, righteous deeds, and steadfastness, assuring believers of Allah's loving care in every trial.

From the miraculous birth of children granted to elderly prophets to the eternal bliss promised to those who remain upright, glad tidings sustain the believer across both worlds. Understanding them reveals the profound generosity of Allah and fills daily worship with eager anticipation.

Key verses

As-Saffat 37:112: Allah granted Ibrahim glad tidings of Ishaq as a righteous prophet, honoring his unwavering devotion.
Al-Ahzab 33:47: The Prophet is instructed to convey the joyful news to believers that an immense, unearned bounty awaits them from Allah.
As-Saff 61:13: Believers are promised divine help and an imminent victory in this worldly life, alongside eternal triumph.
Al-Hijr 15:53: Angels reassured Ibrahim, dispelling his fear by giving him the glad tidings of a son endowed with profound knowledge.
Maryam 19:7-9: Zakariyya received joyful tidings of Yahya despite old age and infertility, showcasing Allah's ability to act beyond ordinary causes.
Ya-Sin 36:11: Those who heed the divine reminder and fear the Most Merciful in secret are given the glad tidings of forgiveness and a noble reward.
Yunus 10:26: Those who excel in good deeds are promised the ultimate reward of Paradise and the precious addition of gazing upon Allah's countenance.
Al-Hadid 57:12: Believing men and women will walk with their light radiating before them on Judgment Day as they receive tidings of eternal gardens.
Al-Baqarah 2:25: The Prophet is directed to give joyful news to those who unite faith with righteous actions, promising purified companions and flowing gardens.
An-Nisa 4:138: In a stern ironic address, the Quran commands the Prophet to announce a painful punishment to hypocrites who align with unbelievers.
Fussilat 41:30: Angels descend upon those who profess Allah as their Lord and remain steadfast, telling them not to fear or grieve, but to rejoice in Paradise.

Words to know

البُشْرَى al-bushra

True news bringing beneficial joy that visibly illuminates and changes the complexion of the face.

Appears 123 times in the Quran.

Most common forms: بُشِّرَ (38), بَشَر (37), بُشْرَى (15), بَشِير (9), مُبَشِّر (9)

Root: ب ش ر

السُّرُور al-surur

A deep psychological state of quiet joy arising from the knowledge or expectation of something pleasurable.

Root: س ر ر

الضَّحِك al-dahik

The smiling expansion of the face and exposure of the teeth resulting from an inner surge of happiness.

الفَرَح al-farah

An immediate chest expansion from fleeting physical or worldly pleasure, which can sometimes lack lasting benefit.

Root: ف ر ح

الإِنْذَار al-indhar

An urgent notification conveying a warning of impending danger within enough time to avoid it.

The pairing of glad tidings and warning in the Quran

From the paper: «اقتران البشارة بالنذارة في القرآن»

The Quran frequently pairs the giving of glad tidings with solemn warning, presenting a balanced message that guides the human soul. In most instances, glad tidings precede warning Al-Baqarah 2:119, Saba 34:28, Fatir 35:24, highlighting that divine mercy takes precedence over divine wrath. However, in two Makkan passages, warning is placed first: in Surah al-A'raf Al-A'raf 7:188 and Surah Hud Hud 11:2.

This specific ordering occurred because the primary questioners were obstinate rejectors who demanded knowledge of the Final Hour. For them, a pressing warning was the most urgent priority. Moreover, while the Prophet was sent to all humanity, the Quran notes in Al-A'raf 7:188 that his tidings and warnings are specifically for a people who believe. Scholars note two reasons for this phrasing: mentioning one group often implies the other, and only the believers actually open their hearts to benefit from the message. The Quran yields its treasures, secrets, and uplifting fruits only to those whose hearts are receptive and prepared to believe Al-Ahzab 33:45.

«والثاني: أنه صلى الله عليه وسلم وإن كان نذيرًا وبشيرًا للكل إلا أن المنتفع بتلك النذارة والبشارة هم المؤمنون.»

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مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 4

Types of glad tidings

From the paper: «أنواع البشارات»

The Quran presents glad tidings across two broad categories: general and specific.

General tidings are directed at believers without specifying the exact nature or measure of the reward Yunus 10:87, Al-Baqarah 2:223. Scholar Rashid Rida explained that leaving the reward unmentioned magnifies its immense status, embracing the goodness of this world and the eternal bliss of the hereafter. The specific degree of glad tidings varies according to the depth of a person's faith and deeds. These general announcements cover prayerful servants facing persecution Yunus 10:87, those mindful of Allah in family life Al-Baqarah 2:223, those striving for victory As-Saff 61:13, and faithful souls fulfilling their covenant through constant repentance, worship, and upholding divine limits At-Tawbah 9:111-112.

Specific tidings announce particular blessings. Foremost among them are righteous children granted beyond natural causes, such as the tidings of Ishaq to Ibrahim in old age Al-Hijr 15:53, Al-Baqarah 2:260, the news of Yahya to Zakariyya when his wife was barren Maryam 19:7-9, and the angelic announcement of Isa to Maryam Ali 'Imran 3:45. Specific tidings also encompass the herald of the Prophet Muhammad himself, foretold by previous prophets and confirmed by Isa As-Saff 61:6, Ali 'Imran 3:81-82, Al-Baqarah 2:129.

قال الشيخ رشيد رضا رحمه الله: «لم يذكر ما يبشرهم به لتعظيم شأنه، وشموله لخير الدنيا، وسعادة الآخرة» .

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 4

The subject of glad tidings

From the paper: «المبشر به»

The Quran outlines both uplifting rewards and severe retribution under the framework of tidings.

For worldly rewards, devoted believers are promised true dreams that offer reassurance and solace Yunus 10:62-64, along with divine support and imminent breakthroughs in their struggles As-Saff 61:13.

In the hereafter, believers are promised a great reward Al-Isra 17:9, forgiveness and generous honor Ya-Sin 36:11, an unblemished good reward Al-Kahf 18:2, and an immense favor that exceeds their own works Al-Ahzab 33:45-47, Yunus 10:26. They receive a firm footing of truth before their Lord Yunus 10:2 and eternal gardens beneath which rivers flow, paired with pure spouses and unending joy Al-Baqarah 2:2, Al-Hadid 57:12, Al-Baqarah 2:25. In Al-Baqarah 2:25, the herald, the recipients, the reward, and the necessary path of faith and good works are all gathered.

Conversely, tidings are used for punishment as a biting irony against hypocrites and oppressors. Hypocrites are announced a painful torment An-Nisa 4:138. For unrepentant criminals, meeting the angels brings terror rather than joy Al-Furqan 25:22: at death their souls are forcefully extracted Al-Anfal 8:50, Al-An'am 6:93, in the grave they face darkness and interrogation, and on Judgment Day they are driven helplessly into the fire Az-Zumar 39:71.

قال ابن عطية رحمه الله: «جاءت البشارة هنا مصرحًا بقيدها، فلذلك حسن استعمالها في المكروه، ومتى جاءت مطلقة فإنما عرفها في المحبوب» .

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 4

The bringers of glad tidings in the Quran

From the paper: «المبشرون في القرآن»

Several distinct heralds deliver glad tidings throughout the Quran.

First, Allah Himself gives joyful announcements, promising righteous children like Ismail As-Saffat 37:101 and Yahya Maryam 19:7 to His prophets, divine mercy, pleasure, and perpetual gardens to those who sacrifice for His sake At-Tawbah 9:20-22, and blooming meadows in Paradise Ash-Shura 42:22-23.

Second, the angels convey tidings: they announced Isa to Maryam Ali 'Imran 3:45, Ishaq and Yaqub to Ibrahim and his wife Al-Hijr 15:53, As-Saffat 37:112, Hud 11:71, and descend at death upon the steadfast, removing all fear and grief Fussilat 41:30-32, Ar-Ra'd 13:24.

Third, the Messengers are sent as bearers of glad tidings and warnings Al-An'am 6:48, An-Nisa 4:165, Ta-Ha 20:134, Al-Qasas 28:47, Al-Baqarah 2:193. Musa encouraged his people during hardship Yunus 10:87, while the Prophet Muhammad announced divine bounties to the patient Al-Baqarah 2:155, the humble Al-Hajj 22:34, the doers of good Al-Hajj 22:37, those who revere Allah in secret Ya-Sin 36:11, and those who renounce false deities Az-Zumar 39:17, while warning obstinate rejectors Ali 'Imran 3:21, At-Tawbah 9:34, Al-Anbiya 21:107.

Fourth, the Quran itself acts as an ongoing tidings An-Nahl 16:102, An-Nahl 16:89, Fussilat 41:44, providing guidance for daily living and announcing the ultimate reward.

Finally, winds serve as physical heralds sent before rainfall, reviving dry lands and signaling divine mercy Ar-Rum 30:46, Al-A'raf 7:57.

«فالقرآن هدى وبشرى للقلوب المؤمنة، التي تتفتح له وتستجيب، وهذه حقيقة ينبغي إبرازها، إن نصوص القرآن لتسكب في قلب المؤمن من الإيناس، وتفتح له من أبواب المعرفة، وتفيض فيه من الإيحاءات والمشاعر ما لا يكون بغير الإيمان، ومن ثم يجد فيه الهدى، كما يستروح فيه البشرى.»

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 4

Those given tidings of reward or punishment

From the paper: «المبشرون بالثواب أو العقاب»

The Quran identifies four main recipient groups of divine announcements.

Prophets received joyful news tailored to their struggles, such as Ibrahim being granted Ishaq and Ismail Al-Hijr 15:53, As-Saffat 37:112, As-Saffat 37:101, and Zakariyya receiving Yahya Maryam 19:7-9.

Believers receive diverse tidings reflecting their specific actions Al-Baqarah 2:25. The humble whose hearts tremble at Allah's remembrance are comforted Al-Hajj 22:34-35; the doers of good are assured of excellence Al-Hajj 22:37, Ar-Rahman 55:60, Yunus 10:26; those who fear the Merciful in secret are promised forgiveness Ya-Sin 36:11; steadfast strivers are granted eternal mercy and pleasure At-Tawbah 9:19-22; the upright are met by comforting angels Fussilat 41:30-32; Allah's devoted friends are relieved of anxiety Yunus 10:62-64; and the patient are promised divine blessings and guidance Al-Baqarah 2:155-157.

Unbelievers receive tidings of painful torment due to turning away from clear truth At-Tawbah 9:3, consuming distracting talk to lead others astray Luqman 31:6, arrogant disregard for divine signs Luqman 31:7, persecuting prophets and callers to justice Ali 'Imran 3:21, and hoarding wealth without fulfilling religious duties At-Tawbah 9:34.

Hypocrites receive the miserable announcement of painful punishment An-Nisa 4:138 because they seek dignity by aligning with disbelievers against the faithful, failing to realize that all honor belongs entirely to Allah An-Nisa 4:139.

«ثم اختلفت أنواع البشرى باختلاف العمل الصالح الذي قام به المبشرون.»

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مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 4

Those who rejoice

From the paper: «المستبشرون»

People respond to glad tidings with joy, but their rejoicing can be praiseworthy or deeply corrupted.

Praiseworthy joy (al-istibshar bil-khayr) characterizes the righteous. Martyrs rejoice in Allah's bounty and celebrate that their surviving brethren will experience no fear or grief Ali 'Imran 3:169-174. Believers rejoice when new Quranic surahs are revealed, finding their faith strengthened and hearts broadened At-Tawbah 9:124. Communities celebrate the arrival of rain after paralyzing drought Ar-Rum 30:48-49, Al-A'raf 7:57. Those who dedicate themselves to Allah's cause rejoice in the supreme bargain of Paradise At-Tawbah 9:111, and on the Day of Resurrection, their radiant, laughing faces reflect the arrival of eternal gardens Al-Hadid 57:12, Abasa 80:38-39.

Corrupt joy (al-istibshar bis-su') stems from diseased hearts. Idolaters feel disgust when Allah alone is invoked, yet rejoice openly when their false gods and human systems are praised Az-Zumar 39:45. Similarly, the people of Lut gathered with shameless delight when youthful guests arrived, eager to commit indecency Al-Hijr 15:67. This public celebration of immorality reveals total moral collapse, an affliction that inevitably heralds ruin for any society that legalizes and celebrates blatant corruption.

«أي: يبشر بعضهم بعضًا بما من الله عليهم من آياته، والتوفيق لفهمها والعمل بها، وهذا دال على انشراح صدورهم لآيات الله، وطمأنينة قلوبهم، وسرعة انقيادهم لما تحثهم عليه.»

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 4

The effects of glad tidings

From the paper: «آثار البشرى»

The glad tidings of Allah generate profound spiritual and psychological fruits across both stages of life.

In this worldly life, receiving divine tidings deepens love for Allah and fosters eagerness to seek His pleasure. It brings relief after hardship, contentment of the heart, emotional composure, and elevated morale. Knowing Allah's promises spurs believers to hasten toward religious duties, plants steadfastness in adversity, and cultivates unyielding conviction in divine aid.

In the hereafter, the internal impact of glad tidings is visibly etched upon the faces of humanity. The faces of the blessed shine with radiant brightness and delight, free from dust or humiliation Ali 'Imran 3:106, Yunus 10:26, Al-Qiyamah 75:22, Abasa 80:38, Al-Ghashiyah 88:8. They are granted the supreme joy of looking upon Allah's noble face, and their feet remain firmly anchored amid the terrors of Judgment Day.

In stark contrast, those who mocked divine guidance bear gloomy, darkened, and disgraced faces Ali 'Imran 3:106, Al-Qiyamah 75:24, Abasa 80:40, Al-Ghashiyah 88:2. For the faithful, the loneliness of the grave is dispelled, panic is replaced by tranquility, and they enter everlasting bliss.

«نشاط المؤمنين وشوقهم لما أعد الله عز وجل لهم من كريم فضله.»

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 4

Takeaways

Unite faith with active deeds
True Quranic tidings are never passive wishes; they are consistently tied to combining sound faith with tangible righteous action.
Trust Allah beyond human causes
The miraculous tidings given to Ibrahim and Zakariyya teach you to turn to Allah in prayer without despair, even when worldly means appear closed.
Share joyful news generously
Follow the prophetic example by uplifting fellow believers with encouraging news, softening hardships and renewing their determination.
Seek honor exclusively from Allah
Never compromise your principles or seek dignity through alliance with corrupt values, for all true dignity belongs entirely to Allah.
Find renewal in the Quran
Approach the verses of the Quran with an open heart so that every passage brings fresh guidance and living comfort to your daily life.

Reflect

When faced with difficult circumstances, how quickly do you turn your gaze toward Allah's promises instead of dwelling on worldly obstacles?
Do you actively bring joyful, faith-affirming news to your family and community, or do you find yourself spreading discouragement?
How does knowing that all honor belongs solely to Allah shape your willingness to stand firm in your faith among peers?
When you read the Quran, does your heart experience the visible relief and comfort of receiving glad tidings?

Go deeper

Linguistic meaning

Derived from the root b-sh-r, denoting the emergence of something accompanied by beauty, freshness, and pleasing appearance. It relates to the outer skin (basharah) because joyful news causes blood to flow into the face, causing it to visibly expand and brighten.

«من خلال ما سبق تبين أن المعنى اللغوي للبشرى يدور حول الخبر السار والمفرح، والحسن والجمال الذي يظهر على الوجه.»

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 4

Technical meaning

Conveying truthful news that signals the occurrence of a great, beneficial good, bringing happiness and visible relief to the one who receives it.

«ويتضح مما سبق أن البشرى في الاصطلاح تعني نقل الأخبار السارة التي تحمل النفع والمسرة والاستبشار بحصول الخير لمن نقل إليه الخبر.»

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 4

How it differs from related terms

السرور Quiet joy: A psychological state that arises from certainty or belief that something deeply pleasurable has occurred; unlike glad tidings, which is the spoken notification, surur is the internal state of joy, and its verbal form istibshar means actively seeking and experiencing that joy upon hearing tidings.
الضحك Laughter and smiling: The outward expansion of the face and showing of the teeth caused by inner joy; it is an physical result that follows after hearing the glad tidings.
الفرح Cheer or immediate delight: An immediate swelling of the chest due to fleeting, present sensory pleasure, often associated with worldly gains that may lack real benefit; by contrast, al-bushra is almost exclusively used for lasting, beneficial good.
الإنذار Warning: An announcement conveying fright and danger delivered within sufficient time to take precautionary measures; it represents the direct opposite of glad tidings, which conveys joy, benefit, and relief.