Quran Universe
19:76

وَيَزِيدُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱهۡتَدَوۡاْ هُدٗىۗ وَٱلۡبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتُ خَيۡرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابٗا وَخَيۡرٞ مَّرَدًّا

Wayazeedu Allahu allatheena ihtadaw hudan waalbaqiyatu alssalihatu khayrun AAinda rabbika thawaban wakhayrun maraddan

And Allah increases those who were guided, in guidance, and the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for recourse.

Word by word
  1. وَيَزِيدُAnd Allah increases
  2. ٱللَّهُAnd Allah increases
  3. ٱلَّذِينَthose who
  4. ٱهۡتَدَوۡاْaccept guidance
  5. هُدٗىۗ(in) guidance
  6. وَٱلۡبَٰقِيَٰتُAnd the everlasting
  7. ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتُgood deeds
  8. خَيۡرٌ(are) better
  9. عِندَnear
  10. رَبِّكَyour Lord
  11. ثَوَابٗا(for) reward
  12. وَخَيۡرٞand better
  13. مَّرَدًّا(for) return
Maryam · 19:76Makkah

Allah adds guidance to the guided; lasting good deeds are best.

Guidance grows, and good deeds remain

Two growths
guidanceincreased by Allah
and
lasting good deedsbest reward, best end
What lasts
houses, crowdswhat they boasted of
righteous deedsremain with Allah

After the misguided are given time that increases their misguidance, Allah says He increases the guided in guidance. And the good deeds that last are better with your Lord, in reward and in final outcome, unlike the houses and gatherings they boasted of.

You started with one prayer a day on time. Then two. Now you notice you want more. That is guidance growing. Each step makes the next one easier.

I am not religious enough to make progress.

Every step toward Allah, He answers with more guidance.

Try this

Take one small step beyond your usual worship today.

Related9:124
Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

And Allah increases in guidance those who walk aright. And the righteous good deeds that last are better with your Lord for reward and better for resort (76)

Increasing Guidance of Those Who are guided

After Allah mentions the extended time and respite that is allowed to those who are in misguidance, increasing them in misguidance, He informs of the increase in guidance of those who are rightly guided. Similarly He says,

وَإِذَا مَا أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ زَادَتْهُ هَٰذِهِ إِيمَانًا

(And whenever there comes down a Surah, some of them say: "Which of you has had his faith increased by it?")[9:124] And the following Ayah also shows this. Concerning Allah's statement,

وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ 

(And the righteous good deeds that last) Its explanation has already preceded in Surat Al-Kahf, along with a lengthy discussion concerning it and the related Hadiths.

خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا

((they) are better with your Lord for reward.) meaning the recompense and reward.

وَخَيْرٌ مَّرَدًّا

(and better for resort.) meaning in the final outcome, the result for its doer.