Basic Justice Surah: An-Nahl (97)

Verse: "Whoever does righteousness — whether male or female — while being a believer, We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward in the best of what they used to do." (16:97) — "Whoever" — absolute inclusiveness: anyone. "Male or female" — the Quran explicitly names both genders to remove any illusion of discrimination. "While being a believer" — the essential condition: righteous action without faith does not produce the good life. "We will cause them to live a good life" — the worldly recompense: a good life. Not necessarily material wealth — but contentment, peace, and inner serenity. The wealthy miserable is poor and the content poor is wealthy. "We will give them their reward in the best of what they used to do" — the otherworldly recompense is multiplied: not "by what they did" but "by the best of what they used to do." Allah takes your highest points as the standard. Lesson: women and men are equal before Allah in recompense — the only difference is faith and action.

Source: Ibn Kathir (5/122); Al-Sadi; Al-Tabari

Tags: النحلالمساواةالحياة الطيبةالعمل الصالحالمرأة والرجل