يَوْمَ لَا يُغْنِى مَوْلًى عَن مَّوْلًى شَيْـًٔا وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ 41
Translations
The Day when no relation will avail a relation at all, nor will they be helped -
Transliteration
Yawma laa yughnee mawlan aan mawlan shay'an wa laa hum yunsaroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when no protector (mawla) can benefit another protector, and none will receive help or support. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse highlights the complete severance of worldly relationships and the inability of any created being—whether wealthy, powerful, or close in kinship—to intercede or assist another on that day. The ayah underscores the absolute helplessness of humanity before Allah's divine justice, where each soul stands alone accountable for its deeds.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ad-Dukhan (Chapter 44), a Meccan surah primarily concerned with the signs of Allah's power, the rejection of the message by the disbelievers, and vivid descriptions of the Day of Judgment. The verse is part of a broader thematic context describing the inevitable consequences and the futility of worldly alliances when facing divine reckoning.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'On the Day of Judgment, a person will flee from his brother, his mother, his father, and his wife and children' (Sahih Al-Bukhari 4731), which illustrates the same principle of isolation on that day. Also relevant is the hadith: 'Verily, your Lord is One, and your father is one' reminding believers of ultimate accountability before Allah alone.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that in this life we should not place false trust in wealth, status, or relationships as means of salvation—only righteous deeds and sincere devotion to Allah matter. We should cultivate awareness (taqwa) that we will face Allah alone, and no amount of worldly connections or influence can save us from His judgment.
Related Ayahs
وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَدْعُونَ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَظَنُّوا۟ مَا لَهُم مِّن مَّحِيصٍ
And lost from them will be those they were invoking before, and they will be certain that they have no place of escape.
ٱسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِرَبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ مَا لَكُم مِّن مَّلْجَإٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّكِيرٍ
Respond to your Lord before a Day comes from Allāh of which there is no repelling. No refuge will you have that Day, nor for you will there be any denial.
يَقُولُ أَءِنَّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُصَدِّقِينَ
Who would say, 'Are you indeed of those who believe
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُوا۟ مِنَّا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ ٱللَّهُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ حَسَرَٰتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَمَا هُم بِخَـٰرِجِينَ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ
Those who followed will say, "If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disassociate ourselves from them as they have disassociated themselves from us." Thus will Allāh show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they are never to emerge from the Fire.