يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَـٰقِيهِ 6
Translations
O mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with [great] exertion and will meet it.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha al-insanu innaka kadiHun ila rabbika kadHan fa-mulaaqihi
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses every human being, informing them that they are in constant struggle and effort toward their Lord, and will inevitably meet Him. Ibn Kathir explains that 'kadH' (struggle/toil) refers to the continuous exertion required in worldly life and the journey of the soul toward accountability, while 'mulaaqihi' (meeting Him) emphasizes the certainty of standing before Allah on the Day of Judgment. Al-Qurtubi notes this serves as a powerful reminder that all human effort, whether spiritual or material, ultimately leads to and culminates in meeting one's Creator.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Inshiqaq, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islam. It comes in the context of the surah's broader theme of cosmic signs and the certainty of the Resurrection—the heavens will split asunder and every soul will know what it has sent forward and kept back. This ayah is positioned to remind the listener that while engaged in earthly toil, they must remain conscious of their ultimate appointment with Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), emphasizing that all efforts, including family obligations, are part of the greater purpose of meeting Allah. Additionally, 'Every soul shall taste death, and only on the Day of Resurrection will you be paid your wages in full' (Quran 3:185) reinforces the theme of meeting Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that all our earthly struggles and endeavors, however demanding, are temporary and directed toward an inevitable meeting with our Creator. We should conduct our lives with conscious awareness that every action, intention, and effort will be presented before Allah, encouraging mindfulness, accountability, and purposeful living aligned with divine guidance.