(112) “Those who repent, those who worship, those who praise, those who journey, those who bow, those who prostrate, those who command what is right and forbid what is wrong, and those who observe the limits set by Allah—and give glad tidings to the believers.”
It is as though it were asked: Who are the believers who have received glad tidings from Allah of entering the Gardens and attaining honors? He answers: They are “those who repent”—that is, those who constantly repent at all times from every sin.
“Those who worship”—that is, those characterized by servitude to Allah and constant obedience to Him, performing both obligatory and recommended deeds at all times. It is through this that a servant becomes one of the worshippers.
“Those who praise” Allah in prosperity and adversity, in ease and hardship; who acknowledge the outward and inward blessings Allah has bestowed upon them; and who extol Allah by recounting these blessings and remembering Him throughout the night and day.
“Those who journey.” Journeying has been interpreted as fasting, as traveling in pursuit of knowledge, and as the heart’s journey through knowing and loving Allah and continually turning to Him in repentance. The correct view, however, is that journeying here means traveling to perform acts that draw one nearer to Allah, such as Hajj, ʿumra, striving in Allah’s cause, seeking knowledge, maintaining ties of kinship, and similar deeds.
“Those who bow and prostrate”—that is, those who perform abundant prayers, which comprise bowing and prostration.
“Those who command what is right,” which includes every obligatory and recommended deed.
“And forbid what is wrong,” meaning everything that Allah and His Messenger have forbidden.
“And those who observe the limits set by Allah” by learning the boundaries of what Allah revealed to His Messenger—what falls within His commands, prohibitions, and rulings and what does not—and by adhering to them in what they do and refrain from doing.
“And give glad tidings to the believers.” He does not specify what glad tidings they are to receive, so that this may encompass every reward in worldly life, religion, and the Hereafter that results from faith. Thus, these glad tidings extend to every believer.
Their extent and nature, however, vary according to the believers’ condition: the strength or weakness of their faith and the degree to which they act in accordance with its demands.