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Quran 2:5

Quran 2:5

 

Arabic Text and Translation

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ

Transliteration: Ulā’ika ‘alā hudam mir rabbihim wa ulā’ika humul-muflihūn
Easy Translation: "Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful."

Easy Word-by-Word Meaning

This is a very powerful and happy verse. It is the conclusion of the first section of Surah Al-Baqarah, which described the believers (Al-Muttaqin).

  1. أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ (Ulā’ika): "Those." This is a special word in Arabic that points to a specific group of people. It refers directly back to the people described in verses 2, 3, and 4—the people of Taqwa who believe in the unseen, pray, give charity, believe in all books, and have certainty in the Hereafter.

  2. عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ (‘alā hudam mir rabbihim): "...are upon guidance from their Lord..."

    • ‘Alā means "upon." It gives a feeling of being firmly settled and established on something, like a car on a solid road.

    • Hudan means "guidance."

    • Mir rabbihim means "from their Lord." This is crucial. The guidance is a gift and a blessing from their Caring Sustainer (Rabb).

  3. وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ (wa ulā’ika humul-muflihūn): "...and it is those who are the successful."

    • Al-Muflihūn comes from the root Falaha, which means to achieve success, to prosper, and to win. In Arabic, it was used for a farmer who successfully gets what he wants from his land—a true and lasting success.

So, the whole verse is a beautiful announcement: "The people with all these wonderful qualities are firmly on the guided path from Allah, their Lord, and they are the ones who have truly won and achieved real success."

Relevance in the Past, Present, and Future

1. Past Relevance: A Promise of Victory for the Early Muslims

For the first Muslims in Mecca, this verse was a message of hope and a promise.

  • In a Time of Weakness: When they were a small, persecuted group with no power or wealth, Allah called them "the successful ones." This was not based on their worldly status, but on their faith and actions. This boosted their morale and gave them incredible strength.

  • A Definition of Success: The disbelievers of Mecca thought success was about money, tribe, and power. This verse redefined success for the believers: Success is being on Allah's guidance. This truth helped them remain patient and steadfast.

2. Present Relevance: The True Measure of Success Today

In our modern world, this verse is the ultimate antidote to society's false definitions of success.

  • Beyond Materialism: The world tells us success is a big house, a fancy car, lots of likes on social media, and a high-paying job. But this verse says: True success is the peace of heart you get from prayer, the purity you get from charity, and the certainty you have about the Hereafter.

  • A Cure for Anxiety and Envy: When we see others with more worldly things, we can feel like failures. This verse reminds us that the real winners are those who are "upon guidance from their Lord." If we are striving to be like the people described in verses 2-4, then we are already on the list of the successful, no matter our bank account.

  • A Practical Checklist: This verse gives us a way to check our own state. We can ask ourselves:

    • Am I trying to believe in the unseen and trust Allah's plan?

    • Am I establishing my prayers properly?

    • Am I spending in charity?

    • Do I believe in all of Allah's books and prophets?

    • Do I truly believe in the Day of Judgment?
      If our answer is "yes," then we can have hope that we are on that guided path and are among the successful.

3. Future Relevance: The Guarantee of the Ultimate Win

This verse points to the greatest success of all, which is in our future.

  • Success in the Hereafter: The ultimate Falah (success) is entering Jannah (Paradise) and being saved from the Hellfire. This verse is a promise from Allah that the people of Taqwa will achieve this ultimate victory. This is the success that never ends.

  • A Lifelong Journey: Being "upon guidance" means it's a continuous journey. We might slip and make mistakes, but the key is to always return to the path of guidance through repentance and good deeds. Allah's mercy is always there for those who are trying.

  • An Eternal Truth: The definition of success in this verse will never change. No matter how advanced society becomes, the ones who believe in Allah and do good deeds will always be the true winners in the eyes of their Creator.

Conclusion

Quran 2:5 is a joyful conclusion and a powerful promise.

It tells us that Allah has clearly described the path to success. It is not a mystery. It is the path of:

  • Faith (in the unseen, the books, the Hereafter)

  • Action (prayer, charity)

  • Certainty (Yaqeen)

This verse fills the heart of a believer with hope and motivation. It reassures us that if we hold onto these qualities, we are not lost or failing. We are, in fact, the ultimate winners in this life and the next, by the grace and promise of our Lord.