إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لِيَفْتَدُوا۟ بِهِۦ مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَا تُقُبِّلَ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 36
Translations
Indeed, those who disbelieve - if they should have all that is in the earth and the like of it with it by which to ransom themselves from the punishment of the Day of Resurrection, it will not be accepted from them, and for them is a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina kafaroo law anna lahum ma fee al-ardi jamee'an wa mithlahu ma'ahu liyaftadoo bihi min adhabi yawmi al-qiyamati ma tuqabbila minhum wa lahum adhab aleem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes the eternal punishment of the disbelievers by stating that even if they possessed all the wealth of the earth twice over, it would not be accepted as ransom to save them from the torment of the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as demonstrating the absolute justice of Allah and the irreversibility of the decision for those who rejected faith in this life. The ayah underscores that material wealth is utterly worthless in the Hereafter for those who disbelieved, and no compensation or redemption is possible once they face divine judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Ma'idah, a Medinan surah revealed in the later period of the Prophet's mission. It appears within a passage discussing the ultimate fate of disbelievers and serves to reinforce the Quranic theme of accountability and the finality of judgment on the Day of Resurrection. The broader context of Al-Ma'idah addresses matters of law, permissibility, and consequences of rejecting divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), related thematically to divine judgment based on deeds. Also relevant is the hadith: 'On the Day of Judgment, a person's deeds will be more beneficial than his wealth' (Sunan Ibn Majah), emphasizing that material possessions cannot save one from divine punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that material wealth and worldly possessions have no value in securing salvation or forgiveness on the Day of Judgment; only sincere faith and righteous deeds matter. For modern readers, it serves as a powerful incentive to prioritize spiritual development and faith over the accumulation of material goods, understanding that true security comes only through obedience to Allah.
Related Ayahs
فَيَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
And it will come to them suddenly while they perceive [it] not.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا ٱلنَّارُ ۖ وَحَبِطَ مَا صَنَعُوا۟ فِيهَا وَبَـٰطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Those are the ones for whom there is not in the Hereafter but the Fire. And lost is what they did therein, and worthless is what they used to do.
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا
And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.
ذَٰلِكُم بِأَنَّكُمُ ٱتَّخَذْتُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ هُزُوًا وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ فَٱلْيَوْمَ لَا يُخْرَجُونَ مِنْهَا وَلَا هُمْ يُسْتَعْتَبُونَ
That is because you took the verses of Allāh in ridicule, and worldly life deluded you." So that Day they will not be removed from it, nor will they be asked to appease [Allāh].