وَٱتَّقُوا۟ يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ 281
Translations
And fear a Day when you will be returned to Allāh. Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will not be wronged [i.e., treated unjustly].
Transliteration
Wa-ttaqū yawman turja'ūn fīhi ilā-llāh, thumma tuwaffā kullu nafsin mā kasabat wa-hum lā yuẓlamūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands believers to fear the Day of Judgment when they will be returned to Allah for final reckoning. Every soul will receive full recompense for its deeds—both good and evil—without any injustice or loss. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse serves as a powerful deterrent against wrongdoing and an encouragement toward righteousness, as no deed goes unrecorded before Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes the section on riba (usury/interest) in Surah Al-Baqarah (verses 275-281). It was revealed in Medina as part of comprehensive financial and ethical guidance for the Muslim community. The context emphasizes that monetary transactions and dealings with others must be conducted with God-consciousness, knowing that ultimate accountability rests with Allah alone.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'On the Day of Judgment, a person will not move from their place until they are asked about four things: their life and how they spent it, their knowledge and what they did with it, their wealth and how they earned it and spent it, and their body and how they wore it out.' (Tirmidhi). Also related: 'Indeed, the most truthful speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad' regarding accountability (Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should cultivate taqwa by constantly remembering that all actions are recorded and will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment, motivating ethical behavior in all dealings. This encourages Muslims to maintain integrity in financial transactions and personal conduct, knowing that Allah's justice is perfect and no soul will be wronged.
Related Ayahs
يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَٱرْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
They [i.e., the hypocrites] will call to them [i.e., the believers], "Were we not with you?" They will say, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allāh. And the Deceiver [i.e., Satan] deceived you concerning Allāh.
إِذِ ٱلْأَغْلَـٰلُ فِىٓ أَعْنَـٰقِهِمْ وَٱلسَّلَـٰسِلُ يُسْحَبُونَ
When the shackles are around their necks and the chains; they will be dragged
وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ
And his mother and his father
وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَرْضًا
And We will present Hell that Day to the disbelievers, on display -