Quran verses by topic

Motivational verses from the Quran, to keep you going

12 verses from the Quran about motivation, each in Arabic with transliteration and the Sahih International translation, and a line on its context.

لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَٰتٌۭ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍۢ سُوٓءًۭا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ ﴿١١﴾

Lahoo mu'aqqibaatum mim baini yadaihi wa min khalfihee yahfazoonahoo min amril laah; innal laaha laa yughaiyiru maa biqawmin hattaa yughaiyiroo maa bianfusihim; wa izaaa araadal laahu biqawmin sooo'an falaa maradda lah; wa maa lahum min doonihee minw waal

For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron.

Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. Change starts within.

وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ ﴿٣٩﴾

Wa al laisa lil insaani illaa maa sa'aa

And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives

There is nothing for a person except what he strives for. From Surah An-Najm, on each soul carrying its own deeds.

فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٥﴾ إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًۭا ﴿٦﴾

Fa inna ma'al 'usri yusra Inna ma'al 'usri yusra

5 For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. 6 Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.

With hardship comes ease, said twice. Revealed in Makkah in the Prophet's ﷺ hardest years.

وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٣٩﴾

Wa laa tahinoo wa laa tahzanoo wa antumul a'lawna in kuntum mu'mineen

So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.

After the losses at Uhud: do not weaken and do not grieve; you will be uppermost if you are believers.

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًۭا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦﴾

Laa yukalliful-laahu nafsan illaa wus'ahaa; lahaa maa kasabat wa 'alaihaa maktasabat; Rabbanaa la tu'aakhiznaa in naseenaaa aw akhtaanaa; Rabbanaa wa laa tahmil-'alainaaa isran kamaa hamaltahoo 'alal-lazeena min qablinaa; Rabbanaa wa laa tuhammilnaa maa laa taaqata lanaa bih wa'fu 'annaa waghfir lanaa warhamnaa; Anta mawlaanaa fansurnaa 'alal qawmil kaafireen

Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."

Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. If it has been placed on you, you can carry it.

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَٰهَدُوا۟ فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٦٩﴾

Wallazeena jaahadoo feenaa lanahdiyannahum subulana; wa innal laaha lama'al muhsineen

And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.

Those who strive for Us, We will guide them to Our ways. Effort comes first, and guidance follows.

فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًۭا ﴿٢﴾ وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدْرًۭا ﴿٣﴾

Fa izaa balaghna ajalahunna fa amsikoohunna bima'roofin aw faariqoohunna bima'roofinw wa ashhidoo zawai 'adlim minkum wa aqeemush shahaadata lillaah; zaalikum yoo'azu bihee man kaana yu'minu billaahi wal yawmil aakhir; wa many yattaqil laaha yaj'al lahoo makhrajaa Wa yarzuqhu min haisu laa yahtasib; wa many yatawakkal 'alal laahi fahuwa husbuh; innal laaha baalighu amrih; qad ja'alal laahu likulli shai'in qadraa

2 And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allah. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out 3 And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.

Whoever fears Allah, He makes a way out for him and provides from where he does not expect. Revealed in the rules of divorce, a hard moment in anyone's life.

۞ قُلْ يَٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿٥٣﴾

Qul yaa'ibaadiyal lazeena asrafoo 'alaaa anfusihim laa taqnatoo mirrahmatil laah; innal laaha yaghfiruz zunooba jamee'aa; innahoo Huwal Ghafoorur Raheem

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."

Do not despair of Allah's mercy, for He forgives all sins. A fresh start is always open.

إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَنصُرُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۗ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٦٠﴾

Iny-yansurkumul laahu falaa ghaaliba lakum wa iny-yakhzulkum faman zal lazee yansurukum mim ba'dih; wa 'alal laahi falyatawakkalil mu'minoon

If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely.

If Allah helps you, no one can defeat you. So let the believers rely on Him.

مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَلْءَاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ﴿٤﴾ وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰٓ ﴿٥﴾

Ma wad da'aka rabbuka wa ma qalaa Walal-aakhiratu khairul laka minal-oola Wa la sawfa yu'teeka rabbuka fatarda

3 Your Lord has not taken leave of you, [O Muhammad], nor has He detested [you]. 4 And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life]. 5 And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.

Your Lord has not left you, the Hereafter is better for you, and He will give you until you are pleased. Revealed when revelation had paused and the Prophet ﷺ was sad.

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَيْـًۭٔا وَهُوَ شَرٌّۭ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢١٦﴾

Kutiba alaikumulqitaalu wa huwa kurhullakum wa 'asaaa an takrahoo shai'anw wa huwa khairullakum wa 'asaaa an tuhibbo shai'anw wa huwa sharrullakum; wallaahu ya'lamu wa antum laa ta'lamoon

Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.

Perhaps you dislike something and it is good for you. Your feelings in the moment are not the final word.

فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَٱنصَبْ ﴿٧﴾ وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرْغَب ﴿٨﴾

Fa iza faragh ta fansab Wa ilaa rabbika far ghab

7 So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. 8 And to your Lord direct [your] longing.

When you have finished one task, stand up for the next, and turn your longing to your Lord.

Arabic: Tanzil, Uthmani script. English: Sahih International. Context notes are ours, drawn from the classical tafsir. Tap ▶ to hear a verse.

Guide

About these verses, and how to use them

The Quran does not motivate with slogans. It tells you that effort counts (53:39), that change starts inside you (13:11), that ease comes with hardship (94:5-6), and that no door is closed while you can still turn back to Allah (39:53). These are the verses people return to when they need to get up and keep going, each with a line on where it comes from.

The 12 verses on this page

13:11, 53:39, 94:5-6, 3:139, 2:286, 29:69, 65:2-3, 39:53, 3:160, 93:3-5, 2:216, 94:7-8. Tap a reference to open that ayah with the verses around it, or read the full surah.

Using these verses when you feel low

Read one verse slowly, in Arabic if you can, then read its context line. Most of them were revealed at a hard moment: after a defeat, in persecution, or when revelation had paused. That context is part of the motivation. The Prophet ﷺ added the practical side: "Be keen on what benefits you, seek Allah's help, and do not give up" (Sahih Muslim 2664). Pair the verses with action, because a small deed done every day is more loved by Allah than a big one done once (Sahih al-Bukhari 6464). To memorise one, open it in the recitation tool and play it on repeat, or share it from Islamic quotes about life.

Other topics: trust in Allah (tawakkul), patience, women, life, death, forgiveness, parents, marriage, hardship and ease, rizq (provision), mercy, gratitude, Ramadan and fasting, peace, blessings and barakah, the signs of Allah in creation, love, Allah's love, clouds and rain, education and knowledge, repentance (tawbah), children, charity, the afterlife (akhirah), strength, success, the death of a loved one, the earth.

Questions

Good to know

What is the most motivational verse in the Quran?

Many people choose 94:5-6, "Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease", or 13:11, "Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves."

Which verse says Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear?

2:286, the last ayah of Surah Al-Baqarah: "Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity."

Is there a verse about hard work in the Quran?

53:39: "There is not for man except that [good] for which he strives", and 94:7: when you have finished, stand up again.