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
قَالُوٓا۟ ءَأَنتَ فَعَلْتَ هَـٰذَا بِـَٔالِهَتِنَا يَـٰٓإِبْرَٰهِيمُ
They said, "Have you done this to our gods, O Abraham?"
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَـٰضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And [mention] the man of the fish [i.e., Jonah], when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."
فَفَهَّمْنَـٰهَا سُلَيْمَـٰنَ ۚ وَكُلًّا ءَاتَيْنَا حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَسَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوُۥدَ ٱلْجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحْنَ وَٱلطَّيْرَ ۚ وَكُنَّا فَـٰعِلِينَ
And We gave understanding of it [i.e., the case] to Solomon, and to each [of them] We gave judgement and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains to exalt [Us], along with David and [also] the birds. And We were doing [that].
وَنَضَعُ ٱلْمَوَٰزِينَ ٱلْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَإِن كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِنَا حَـٰسِبِينَ
And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountant.