فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَا كُفْرَانَ لِسَعْيِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ كَـٰتِبُونَ 94
Translations
So whoever does righteous deeds while he is a believer - no denial will there be for his effort, and indeed We [i.e., Our angels], of it, are recorders.
Transliteration
Faman ya'mal mina as-salihati wa huwa mu'minun fala kufrana li-sa'yihi wa inna lahu katibuun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah assures believers that whoever performs righteous deeds while maintaining faith will have their efforts fully recognized and rewarded by Allah, with no rejection or denial of their work. The phrase 'we are recording for him' emphasizes Allah's perfect knowledge and documentation of all good deeds. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as a guarantee that sincere believers' actions will never be wasted, establishing the fundamental principle that good works coupled with genuine faith receive divine acceptance and recompense.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Anbiya is Meccan and deals with the stories of the prophets and divine assurances to believers facing persecution. This ayah appears in the context of reassuring the early Muslim community that despite their hardships, their faithful worship and righteous deeds are being witnessed and recorded by Allah. It serves as encouragement for perseverance in faith and obedience.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), exemplifying how righteous conduct with faith is observed and valued. Also relevant: 'Indeed, Allah does not look at your forms or wealth, but rather He looks at your hearts and your deeds' (Sahih Muslim 2564), emphasizing sincere intention with action.
Themes
Key Lesson
For modern believers, this ayah teaches that sincere faith must accompany righteous action for deeds to be meaningful—outward morality without inner belief yields no reward. It provides profound comfort that Allah meticulously records every good deed of the faithful, ensuring nothing is wasted and all will be justly rewarded.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا رَءَاكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِن يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلَّا هُزُوًا أَهَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَذْكُرُ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ وَهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
And when those who disbelieve see you, [O Muḥammad], they take you not except in ridicule, [saying], "Is this the one who mentions [i.e., insults] your gods?" And they are, at the mention of the Most Merciful, disbelievers.
لَوْ كَانَ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ءَالِهَةً مَّا وَرَدُوهَا ۖ وَكُلٌّ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Had these [false deities] been [actual] gods, they would not have come to it, but all are eternal therein.
بَلْ تَأْتِيهِم بَغْتَةً فَتَبْهَتُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ رَدَّهَا وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
Rather, it will come to them unexpectedly and bewilder them, and they will not be able to repel it, nor will they be reprieved.
لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَـٰبًا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
We have certainly sent down to you a Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] in which is your mention. Then will you not reason?