عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 93
Translations
About what they used to do.
Transliteration
Amma kanu ya'malun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This phrase means 'for what they used to do,' appearing at the end of Ayah 15:93 which describes the punishment and recompense of those who rejected the message. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes that Allah's punishment is a direct consequence of people's own deeds and rejection of truth. The phrase underscores divine justice—that Allah does not punish arbitrarily but in response to deliberate wrongdoing.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in Surah Al-Hijr, a Meccan chapter addressing the polytheists of Mecca who rejected Prophet Muhammad's message. The broader context of verses 93-96 discusses the accountability of those who deny the signs of Allah and their eventual punishment, reinforcing the theme of divine justice and the certainty of the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected here relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'Whoever does an atom's weight of good shall see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil shall see it' (Sahih Muslim 2687), emphasizing that all deeds return to their doer. Additionally, the Hadith 'Actions are judged by intentions' (Sahih Bukhari 1) complements the accountability theme.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that every action has consequences and that Allah's justice is perfect—no deed goes unnoticed or unrewarded. It serves as a powerful motivation for believers to be mindful of their actions in this life, knowing they will answer for them before Allah.
Related Ayahs
هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّآ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَوْ يَأْتِىَ رَبُّكَ أَوْ يَأْتِىَ بَعْضُ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكَ ۗ يَوْمَ يَأْتِى بَعْضُ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكَ لَا يَنفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَـٰنُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ ءَامَنَتْ مِن قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِىٓ إِيمَـٰنِهَا خَيْرًا ۗ قُلِ ٱنتَظِرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مُنتَظِرُونَ
Do they [then] wait for anything except that the angels should come to them or your Lord should come or that there come some of the signs of your Lord? The Day that some of the signs of your Lord will come no soul will benefit from its faith as long as it had not believed before or had earned through its faith some good. Say, "Wait. Indeed, we [also] are waiting."
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَظَلَمُوا۟ لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلَا لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ طَرِيقًا
Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit wrong [or injustice] - never will Allāh forgive them, nor will He guide them to a path,
فَذُوقُوا۟ فَلَن نَّزِيدَكُمْ إِلَّا عَذَابًا
"So taste [the penalty], and never will We increase you except in torment."
فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَحْشُرَنَّهُمْ وَٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ ثُمَّ لَنُحْضِرَنَّهُمْ حَوْلَ جَهَنَّمَ جِثِيًّا
So by your Lord, We will surely gather them and the devils; then We will bring them to be present around Hell upon their knees.