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
وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَـَٔاتَيْنَا كُلَّ نَفْسٍ هُدَىٰهَا وَلَـٰكِنْ حَقَّ ٱلْقَوْلُ مِنِّى لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ
And if We had willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, but the word from Me will come into effect [that] "I will surely fill Hell with jinn and people all together.
وَإِن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا نَحْنُ مُهْلِكُوهَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُوهَا عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَسْطُورًا
And there is no city but that We will destroy it before the Day of Resurrection or punish it with a severe punishment. That has ever been in the Register inscribed.
وَكُلًّا ضَرَبْنَا لَهُ ٱلْأَمْثَـٰلَ ۖ وَكُلًّا تَبَّرْنَا تَتْبِيرًا
And for each We presented examples [as warnings], and each We destroyed with [total] destruction.
وَمَا ظَلَمْنَـٰهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۖ فَمَآ أَغْنَتْ عَنْهُمْ ءَالِهَتُهُمُ ٱلَّتِى يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ لَّمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَمَا زَادُوهُمْ غَيْرَ تَتْبِيبٍ
And We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves. And they were not availed at all by their gods which they invoked other than Allāh when there came the command of your Lord. And they did not increase them in other than ruin.