Quranic theme
Joy
الفرح
22 verses
When a new sura was revealed, it acted as a wedge between two kinds of hearts, strengthening the faith of the believers so that they rejoiced, while hypocrites met the words with doubt (9:124). The Quran evaluates joy entirely by its object. To exult merely in the life of this world is to cling to a fleeting comfort that pales beside the life to come (13:26). Yet, experiencing relief when distress lifts is recognized as a natural human response. As al-Qurtubi observes (al-Jamia li-ahkam al-Quran, 9/262), it is entirely permissible to express gladness after sorrow vanishes, such as celebrating a child's milestones by feeding others. The sheer force of this emotion can even momentarily override human faculties; Jamal al-Din al-Qasimi notes (Mahasin al-Tawil, 2/146) that words of disbelief uttered accidentally out of overwhelming astonishment or joy—such as a person finding their lost mount and provisions in the desert and misspeaking in extreme relief—are excused because of the emotion's intensity.
What triggers joy in a believer?
The Quran links righteous joy to the arrival of God’s help, the descent of revelation, and the bonds of family. When the Byzantines were defeated in a nearby land, the Quran promised they would reverse their defeat in a few years, declaring that on that day, the believers would rejoice at God’s help (30:2-5). The arrival of truth itself is a cause for celebration; those who were previously given the Scripture rejoiced in what was revealed to the Prophet (13:36). On an intimate, domestic level, believers are taught to seek gladness in their own homes, praying to be given joy in their spouses and offspring while striving to be examples for those aware of God (25:74).
When is rejoicing condemned?
Joy becomes blameworthy when it is rooted in arrogance, blind attachment to material wealth, or malice. Commenting on the Quranic command not to exult, Muhammad al-Amin al-Harari explains (Tafsir Hada'iq al-Ruh wa al-Rayhan, 21/288) that rejoicing in the world purely for its worldly nature is condemned because it stems from loving this life and forgetting what lies ahead. This misplaced revelry characterizes those who receive abundance but fail to recognize its temporary nature (13:26). Worse still is the joy born of ill will. The hypocrites are described as grieving when good fortune reached the Prophet, but when misfortune struck him, they would claim they had taken their precautions and walk away rejoicing (9:50).
Beyond this world, the highest form of gladness is reserved for what follows death. Those killed in God's way are not dead, but alive and well provided for, happy with His favor and rejoicing for those they left behind, knowing they will face no fear or grief (3:169-170). For those who believed and did good deeds, the ultimate promise remains that they will delight in a Garden (30:15).
Verses
All 22 verses, in mushaf order.
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمْوَٰتًۢا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَآءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ
[Prophet], do not think of those who have been killed in God’s way as dead. They are alive with their Lord, well provided for,
فَرِحِينَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوا۟ بِهِم مِّنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
happy with what God has given them of His favour; rejoicing that for those they have left behind who have yet to join them there is no fear, nor will they grieve;
إِن تُصِبْكَ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْكَ مُصِيبَةٌ يَقُولُوا۟ قَدْ أَخَذْنَآ أَمْرَنَا مِن قَبْلُ وَيَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُمْ فَرِحُونَ
If you [Prophet] have good fortune, it will grieve them, but if misfortune comes your way, they will say to themselves, ‘We took precautions for this,’ and go away rejoicing.
وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ زَادَتْهُ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ إِيمَـٰنًا ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
When a sura is revealed, some [hypocrites] say, ‘Have any of you been strengthened in faith by it?’ It certainly does strengthen the faith of those who believe and they rejoice,
ٱللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ وَفَرِحُوا۟ بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعٌ
God gives abundantly to whoever He will, and sparingly to whoever He will- and though they may revel in the life of this world, it is but a fleeting comfort compared with the Life to come.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُۥ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ وَلَآ أُشْرِكَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُوا۟ وَإِلَيْهِ مَـَٔابِ
Those to whom We sent the Scripture rejoice in what has been revealed to you [Prophet]; some factions deny parts of it. Say, ‘I am commanded to worship God, and not join anything with Him in worship: to Him I call [others] and to Him I shall return.’
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
those who pray, ‘Our Lord, give us joy in our spouses and offspring. Make us good examples to those who are aware of You’.
غُلِبَتِ ٱلرُّومُ
The Byzantines have been defeated
فِىٓ أَدْنَى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ
in a nearby land. They will reverse their defeat with a victory
فِى بِضْعِ سِنِينَ ۗ لِلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْرُ مِن قَبْلُ وَمِنۢ بَعْدُ ۚ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
in a few years’ time––God is in command, first and last. On that day, the believers will rejoice
بِنَصْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ يَنصُرُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
at God’s help. He helps whoever He pleases: He is the Mighty, the Merciful.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَهُمْ فِى رَوْضَةٍ يُحْبَرُونَ
those who believed and did good deeds will delight in a Garden,
وَإِذَآ أَذَقْنَا ٱلنَّاسَ رَحْمَةً فَرِحُوا۟ بِهَا ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ إِذَا هُمْ يَقْنَطُونَ
When We give people a taste of Our blessing, they rejoice, but when something bad happens to them- because of their own actions- they fall into utter despair.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى يُرْسِلُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابًا فَيَبْسُطُهُۥ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ وَيَجْعَلُهُۥ كِسَفًا فَتَرَى ٱلْوَدْقَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلَـٰلِهِۦ ۖ فَإِذَآ أَصَابَ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦٓ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
It is God who sends out the winds; they stir up the clouds; He spreads them over the skies as He pleases; He makes them break up and you see the rain falling from them. See how they rejoice when He makes it fall upon whichever of His servants He wishes,
وَإِن كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمُبْلِسِينَ
though before it is sent they may have lost all hope.
إِنَّ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلْيَوْمَ فِى شُغُلٍ فَـٰكِهُونَ
The people of Paradise today are happily occupied-
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَبْشِرُوا۟ بِٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
As for those who say, ‘Our Lord is God,’ and take the straight path towards Him, the angels come down to them and say, ‘Have no fear or grief, but rejoice in the good news of Paradise, which you have been promised.
ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ أَنتُمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُكُمْ تُحْبَرُونَ
‘Enter Paradise, you and your spouses: you will be filled with joy.’
فَوَقَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّىٰهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُورًا
So God will save them from the woes of that Day, give them radiance and gladness,
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُّسْفِرَةٌ
on that Day some faces will be beaming,
ضَاحِكَةٌ مُّسْتَبْشِرَةٌ
laughing, and rejoicing,
إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فِىٓ أَهْلِهِۦ مَسْرُورًا
He used to live among his people well pleased.