The words...

The words, "the one who believes in Allah and the last day…” define the righteous ones, and explain their real state. The verse introduces them with all three aspects of belief, deeds and morals, in three stages.

The first stage begins with the words, "the one who believes in Allah;" the second is the sentence, "these are they who are true;" and the third is, "and these are they who are the pious." Allah begins the first stage, saying: "the one who believes in Allah and the last day and the angels and the Book and the prophets". It is a comprehensive description of all the true gnosis which Allah wants His servants to believe in.

The belief referred to in this verse is the perfect belief which can never fail to produce its effect. When a believer attains to this stage of faith, his heart is never assailed by any doubt or confusion; he does not take a dim view of whatever befalls him, nor is he offended if afflicted with a misfortune. Likewise, his morals and actions are safe from adverse influences. This interpretation is further supported by the phrase, "these are they who are true".

Truth, in this verse, is general and unconditional; it is not restricted to any condition of man's heart or any activity of his limbs. It means, they are real believers, true in their belief; as Allah says: But no! by your Lord! they do not believe until they make you a judge of that which has become a matter of disagreement among them, and then do not find any straitness in their hearts as to what you have decided and submit with total submission (4:65).

Thus, their condition fits the fourth stage of the belief, described under the verse: When his Lord said to him, Submit (yourself), he said: "I submit myself to the Lord of the worlds" (2:131). After description of belief, Allah mentions some of their deeds: "and gives away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives, and keeps up prayer and pays the zakat".

Here their prayer is mentioned, and it concerns the Divine Worship. Allah says: . . . surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil ... (29:45); also, He says: and keep up prayer for My remembrance (20:14). It is followed by mention of zakat; and it is a financial obligation promulgated for economic good of the society.