تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ ۖ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبْتُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُسْـَٔلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 134
Translations
That was a nation which has passed on. It will have [the consequence of] what it earned, and you will have what you have earned. And you will not be asked about what they used to do.
Transliteration
Tilka ummatum qad khalat, laha ma kasabat wa lakum ma kasabtum, wa la tus'alun amma kanu ya'malun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the principle of individual accountability and responsibility in the Hereafter, stating that each community (past generations) will be judged according to their own deeds, and the current Muslim ummah will similarly be judged by theirs. Ibn Kathir explains this refutes the notion that believers can inherit the righteousness of their forefathers or be held accountable for others' actions, emphasizing that each soul bears its own burden of responsibility before Allah. Al-Qurtubi notes this addresses the Jewish and Christian assertions of inheriting salvation through their ancestors, clarifying that deeds are personal and cannot be transferred.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of the Abrahamic tradition and disputes with the People of the Book. It responds to Jewish and Christian claims of exclusive salvation based on lineage, establishing the Quranic principle that spiritual status is earned through personal obedience to Allah, not inherited through ancestry or community membership.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Each soul is responsible for what it has earned, and no soul shall bear the burden of another' (related to the principle in 17:15). Additionally, in Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet clarified that on the Day of Judgment, lineage will not benefit anyone except through personal righteous deeds.
Themes
Key Lesson
Each person stands alone before Allah on the Day of Judgment, accountable only for their own intentions and actions—neither the piety of ancestors nor the claims of inherited faith can substitute for personal obedience and righteousness. This encourages Muslims to focus on their own spiritual development rather than relying on family legacy or community status.
Related Ayahs
كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses [i.e., laws] that you might use reason.
وَمَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى يَنْعِقُ بِمَا لَا يَسْمَعُ إِلَّا دُعَآءً وَنِدَآءً ۚ صُمٌّۢ بُكْمٌ عُمْىٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
The example of those who disbelieve is like that of one who shouts at what hears nothing but calls and cries [i.e., cattle or sheep] - deaf, dumb and blind, so they do not understand.
قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muḥammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face [i.e., yourself] toward al-Masjid al-Ḥarām. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces [i.e., yourselves] toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture [i.e., the Jews and the Christians] well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allāh is not unaware of what they do.
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱلْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةً مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allāh promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.