وَٱتَّقُوا۟ يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِى نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا شَفَـٰعَةٌ وَلَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ 48
Translations
And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be taken from it, nor will they be aided.
Transliteration
Wa-ttaqū yawman lā tajzī nafsun 'an nafs shay'ān wa-lā yuqbalu minhā shafā'atun wa-lā yu'khadhu minhā 'adlun wa-lā hum yunṣarūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns believers to fear the Day of Judgment when no soul can benefit another, intercession will not be accepted (except by Allah's permission), no ransom or compensation can be offered, and no one will be helped or supported. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse establishes the absolute justice and sovereignty of Allah on that Day—personal accountability is paramount, and worldly status, wealth, and relationships will be of no avail. The phrase 'lā tajzī nafs' (one soul cannot avail another) reflects the complete isolation each person will face before their Lord.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah (Medinan), which addresses the believers and establishes fundamental principles of faith and accountability. It follows immediately after the verse describing those who believe in the unseen (2:3), serving as a motivational reminder for righteous conduct by emphasizing the consequence of the Hereafter where no intercession or worldly means can help.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said in Sahih Bukhari: 'On the Day of Resurrection, the sun will be brought near the people...and they will cry out for intercession.' This relates to the theme of seeking help. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet stated that on the Day of Judgment, every soul will be concerned only with itself, reflecting the isolating nature described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true security and success come only through personal piety and righteous deeds, not through wealth, status, or relationships. In our modern age, it reminds us to prioritize spiritual development over material accumulation and social standing, knowing that each soul will face Allah alone on the Day of Judgment with only their deeds preceding them.
Related Ayahs
مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ هَلْ يَنصُرُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَنتَصِرُونَ
Other than Allāh? Can they help you or help themselves?"
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَآئِهِۦ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَزْنًا
Those are the ones who disbelieve in the verses of their Lord and in [their] meeting Him, so their deeds have become worthless; and We will not assign to them on the Day of Resurrection any weight [i.e., importance].
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْأَشْهَـٰدُ
Indeed, We will support Our messengers and those who believe during the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand -
يَـٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِى وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا۟ شَهِدْنَا عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِنَا ۖ وَغَرَّتْهُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَشَهِدُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ كَـٰفِرِينَ
"O company of jinn and mankind, did there not come to you messengers from among you, relating to you My verses and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "We bear witness against ourselves"; and the worldly life had deluded them, and they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.