Quran Verses about A safe and prosperous land

19 ayahs · from 12 surahs

The people of Saba were given a good land with two gardens and safe journeys, and this was taken from them when they turned away from gratitude. Ibrahim prayed that Makkah be a land of security and that its believing people be provided with fruits, and Allah made the sanctuary safe while people around it raided one another. The verses also speak of blessings from the sky and the earth if the people of a land believe and are mindful of Allah, of Allah not destroying a land unjustly while its people do good, and of a land that was safe and richly provided for, then struck by hunger and fear for denying Allah's favours.

A good land: the people of Saba

  1. لَقَدۡ كَانَ لِسَبَإٖ فِي مَسۡكَنِهِمۡ ءَايَةٞۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينٖ وَشِمَالٖۖ كُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِ رَبِّكُمۡ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لَهُۥۚ بَلۡدَةٞ طَيِّبَةٞ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٞ ١٥

    Laqad kāna lisabaʾin fī maskanihim āyah, jannatāni ʿay yamīniw wa shimāl, kulū mir rizqi rabbikum washkurū lah, baldatun ṭayyibatuw wa rabbun ghafūr.

    There was for [the tribe of] Saba’ in their dwelling place a sign: two [fields of] gardens on the right and on the left. [They were told], "Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord."

  2. فَأَعۡرَضُواْ فَأَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ سَيۡلَ ٱلۡعَرِمِ وَبَدَّلۡنَٰهُم بِجَنَّتَيۡهِمۡ جَنَّتَيۡنِ ذَوَاتَيۡ أُكُلٍ خَمۡطٖ وَأَثۡلٖ وَشَيۡءٖ مِّن سِدۡرٖ قَلِيلٖ ١٦

    Fa aʿraḍū fa arsalnā ʿalayhim saylal-ʿarimi wa baddalnāhum bijannatayhim jannatayni dhawātay ukulin khamṭiw wa athliw wa shayʾim min sidrin qalīl.

    But they turned away [refusing], so We sent upon them the flood of the dam,1 and We replaced their two [fields of] gardens with gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisks and something of sparse lote trees.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. i.e., caused by a break in their dam. Another meaning is "the overwhelming flood."
  3. ذَٰلِكَ جَزَيۡنَٰهُم بِمَا كَفَرُواْۖ وَهَلۡ نُجَٰزِيٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡكَفُورَ ١٧

    Dhālika jazaynāhum bimā kafarū, wa hal nujāzī illal-kafūr.

    [By] that We repaid them because they disbelieved. And do We [thus] repay except the ungrateful?

  4. وَجَعَلۡنَا بَيۡنَهُمۡ وَبَيۡنَ ٱلۡقُرَى ٱلَّتِي بَٰرَكۡنَا فِيهَا قُرٗى ظَٰهِرَةٗ وَقَدَّرۡنَا فِيهَا ٱلسَّيۡرَۖ سِيرُواْ فِيهَا لَيَالِيَ وَأَيَّامًا ءَامِنِينَ ١٨

    Wa jaʿalnā baynahum wa baynal-qural-latī bāraknā fīhā quran ẓāhirataw wa qaddarnā fīhas-sayr, sīrū fīhā layāliya wa ayyāman āminīn.

    And We placed between them and the cities which We had blessed1 [many] visible cities. And We determined between them the [distances of] journey,2 [saying], "Travel between them by night or by day in safety."

    Footnotes (2)
    1. In the lands of what is now southern Syria and Palestine.
    2. i.e., We placed the intermediate settlements at calculated distances for the convenience of travelers.
  5. فَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَا بَٰعِدۡ بَيۡنَ أَسۡفَارِنَا وَظَلَمُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمۡ أَحَادِيثَ وَمَزَّقۡنَٰهُمۡ كُلَّ مُمَزَّقٍۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٖ شَكُورٖ ١٩

    Faqālū rabbanā bāʿid bayna asfārinā wa ẓalamū anfusahum fajaʿalnāhum aḥādītha wa mazzaqnāhum kulla mumazzaq, inna fī dhālika laʾāyātil likulli ṣabbārin shakūr.

    But [insolently] they said, "Our Lord, lengthen the distance between our journeys," and wronged themselves, so We made them narrations1 and dispersed them in total dispersion. Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. Stories related to others as lessons or examples.

Makkah, a land made safe through Ibrahim's prayer

  1. وَإِذۡ جَعَلۡنَا ٱلۡبَيۡتَ مَثَابَةٗ لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمۡنٗا وَٱتَّخِذُواْ مِن مَّقَامِ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ مُصَلّٗىۖ وَعَهِدۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيۡتِيَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلۡعَٰكِفِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ ١٢٥

    Wa idh jaʿalnal-bayta mathābatal lin-nāsi wa amnaw wattakhidhū mim maqāmi ibrāhīma muṣallā, wa ʿahidnā ilā ibrāhīma wa ismāʿīla an ṭahhirā baytiya liṭ-ṭāʾifīna wal-ʿākifīna war-rukkaʿis-sujūd.

    And [mention] when We made the House [i.e., the Kaʿbah] a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], "Purify My House for those who perform ṭawāf1 and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]."

    Footnotes (1)
    1. A form of worship particular to the Kaʿbah consisting of going around it in circuits.
  2. وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡ هَٰذَا بَلَدًا ءَامِنٗا وَٱرۡزُقۡ أَهۡلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ مِنۡهُم بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِۚ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُۥ قَلِيلٗا ثُمَّ أَضۡطَرُّهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلنَّارِۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ ١٢٦

    Wa idh qāla ibrāhīmu rabbijʿal hādhā baladan āminaw warzuq ahlahū minath-thamarāti man āmana minhum billāhi wal-yawmil-ākhir, qāla wa man kafara fa umattiʿuhū qalīlan thumma aḍṭarruhū ilā ʿadhābin-nār, wa biʾsal-maṣīr.

    And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits - whoever of them believes in Allāh and the Last Day." [Allāh] said, "And whoever disbelieves - I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination."

  1. فِيهِ ءَايَٰتُۢ بَيِّنَٰتٞ مَّقَامُ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنٗاۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَاعَ إِلَيۡهِ سَبِيلٗاۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٩٧

    Fīhi āyātum bayyinātum maqāmu ibrāhīm, wa man dakhalahū kāna āminā, walillāhi ʿalan-nāsi ḥijjul-bayti manistaṭāʿa ilayhi sabīlā, wa man kafara fa innallāha ghaniyyun ʿanil-ʿālamīn.

    In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it [i.e., the Ḥaram] shall be safe. And [due] to Allāh from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves [i.e., refuses] - then indeed, Allāh is free from need of the worlds.1

    Footnotes (1)
    1. He has no need for His servants' worship; it is they who are in need of Him.
  1. وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمُ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡ هَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدَ ءَامِنٗا وَٱجۡنُبۡنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعۡبُدَ ٱلۡأَصۡنَامَ ٣٥

    Wa idh qāla ibrāhīmu rabbijʿal hādhal-balada āminaw wajnubnī wa baniyya an naʿbudal-aṣnām.

    And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this city [i.e., Makkah] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.

  1. وَقَالُوٓاْ إِن نَّتَّبِعِ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفۡ مِنۡ أَرۡضِنَآۚ أَوَلَمۡ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمۡ حَرَمًا ءَامِنٗا يُجۡبَىٰٓ إِلَيۡهِ ثَمَرَٰتُ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ رِّزۡقٗا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ٥٧

    Wa qālū in nattabiʿil-hudā maʿaka nutakhaṭṭaf min arḍinā, awalam numakkil lahum ḥaraman āminay yujbā ilayhi thamarātu kulli shayʾir rizqam mil ladunnā wa lākinna aktharahum lā yaʿlamūn.

    And they [i.e., the Quraysh] say, "If we were to follow the guidance with you, we would be swept1 from our land." Have We not established for them a safe sanctuary to which are brought the fruits of all things as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. By the other Arab tribes.
  1. أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّا جَعَلۡنَا حَرَمًا ءَامِنٗا وَيُتَخَطَّفُ ٱلنَّاسُ مِنۡ حَوۡلِهِمۡۚ أَفَبِٱلۡبَٰطِلِ يُؤۡمِنُونَ وَبِنِعۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ يَكۡفُرُونَ ٦٧

    Awalam yaraw annā jaʿalnā ḥaraman āminaw wa yutakhaṭṭafun-nāsu min ḥawlihim, afabil-bāṭili yuʾminūna wabiniʿmatillāhi yakfurūn.

    Have they not seen that We made [Makkah] a safe sanctuary, while people are being taken away1 all around them? Then in falsehood do they believe, and in the favor of Allāh they disbelieve?

    Footnotes (1)
    1. i.e., killed and taken captive.
  1. وَهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ ٱلۡأَمِينِ ٣

    Wa hādhal-baladil-amīn.

    And [by] this secure city [i.e., Makkah],

  1. فَلۡيَعۡبُدُواْ رَبَّ هَٰذَا ٱلۡبَيۡتِ ٣

    Falyaʿbudū rabba hādhal-bayt.

    Let them worship the Lord of this House,1

    Footnotes (1)
    1. i.e., the Kaʿbah.
  2. ٱلَّذِيٓ أَطۡعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٖ وَءَامَنَهُم مِّنۡ خَوۡفِۭ ٤

    Al-ladhī aṭʿamahum min jūʿiw wa āmanahum min khawf.

    Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear.

Blessing and security for believing people

  1. وَلَوۡ أَنَّ أَهۡلَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱتَّقَوۡاْ لَفَتَحۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم بَرَكَٰتٖ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُواْ فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ ٩٦

    Wa law anna ahlal-qurā āmanū wattaqaw lafataḥnā ʿalayhim barakātim minas-samāʾi wal-arḍi wa lākin kadhdhabū fa akhadhnāhum bimā kānū yaksibūn.

    And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allāh, We would have opened [i.e., bestowed] upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning.1

    Footnotes (1)
    1. Of blame for their sin.
  1. وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهۡلِكَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ بِظُلۡمٖ وَأَهۡلُهَا مُصۡلِحُونَ ١١٧

    Wa mā kāna rabbuka liyuhlikal-qurā biẓulmiw wa ahluhā muṣliḥūn.

    And your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers.

  1. وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَيَسۡتَخۡلِفَنَّهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ كَمَا ٱسۡتَخۡلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمۡ دِينَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي ٱرۡتَضَىٰ لَهُمۡ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ خَوۡفِهِمۡ أَمۡنٗاۚ يَعۡبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشۡرِكُونَ بِي شَيۡـٔٗاۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَٰسِقُونَ ٥٥

    Waʿadallāhul-ladhīna āmanū minkum wa ʿamiluṣ-ṣāliḥāti layastakhlifannahum fil-arḍi kamastakhlafal-ladhīna min qablihim wa layumakkinanna lahum dīnahumul-ladhirtaḍā lahum wa layubaddilannahum mim baʿdi khawfihim amnā, yaʿbudūnanī lā yushrikūna bī shayʾā, wa man kafara baʿda dhālika fa ulāʾika humul-fāsiqūn.

    Allāh has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves1 after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. i.e., denies the favor of Allāh or does not live by His ordinance.

A safe land that denied the favours

  1. وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلٗا قَرۡيَةٗ كَانَتۡ ءَامِنَةٗ مُّطۡمَئِنَّةٗ يَأۡتِيهَا رِزۡقُهَا رَغَدٗا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٖ فَكَفَرَتۡ بِأَنۡعُمِ ٱللَّهِ فَأَذَٰقَهَا ٱللَّهُ لِبَاسَ ٱلۡجُوعِ وَٱلۡخَوۡفِ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَصۡنَعُونَ ١١٢

    Wa ḍaraballāhu mathalan qaryatan kānat āminatam muṭmaʾinnatay yaʾtīhā rizquhā raghadam min kulli makānin fakafarat biʾanʿumillāhi fa adhāqahallāhu libāsal-jūʿi wal-khawfi bimā kānū yaṣnaʿūn.

    And Allāh presents an example: a city [i.e., Makkah] which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allāh. So Allāh made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.

  2. وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُمۡ رَسُولٞ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ وَهُمۡ ظَٰلِمُونَ ١١٣

    Wa laqad jāʾahum rasūlum minhum fakadhdhabūhu fa akhadhahumul-ʿadhābu wa hum ẓālimūn.

    And there had certainly come to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they denied him; so punishment overtook them while they were wrongdoers.

  1. وَكَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مِن قَرۡيَةِۭ بَطِرَتۡ مَعِيشَتَهَاۖ فَتِلۡكَ مَسَٰكِنُهُمۡ لَمۡ تُسۡكَن مِّنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗاۖ وَكُنَّا نَحۡنُ ٱلۡوَٰرِثِينَ ٥٨

    Wa kam ahlaknā min qaryatim baṭirat maʿīshatahā, fatilka masākinuhum lam tuskam mim baʿdihim illā qalīlā, wa kunnā naḥnul-wārithīn.

    And how many a city have We destroyed that was insolent in its [way of] living, and those are their dwellings which have not been inhabited after them except briefly.1 And it is We who were the inheritors.

    Footnotes (1)
    1. By travelers seeking temporary shelter. The reference is to the ruins which were visible to the Quraysh during their journeys.