هَلْ ثُوِّبَ ٱلْكُفَّارُ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ 36
Translations
Have the disbelievers [not] been rewarded [this Day] for what they used to do?
Transliteration
Hal thuwiiba al-kuffāru mā kānū yaf'alūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah asks rhetorically whether the disbelievers will be rewarded for the deeds they used to perform, implying a resounding 'no'—their evil actions will not be rewarded but rather punished. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as a stern warning that the works of disbelievers are nullified and will never bring them benefit on the Day of Judgment, as stated in Surah Al-A'raf (7:18) and Surah An-Nahl (16:88). The ayah emphasizes that without faith in Allah, all deeds are rendered void and only worthy of punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the conclusion of Surah Al-Mutaffifin, which addresses those who defraud in weights and measures. The surah's context warns against cheating and injustice while reminding humanity of the certainty of the Day of Judgment. This particular ayah reinforces the overall theme that disbelievers' actions, no matter how numerous or outwardly impressive, will not save them from divine punishment because they are devoid of the foundation of faith (imān).
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever performs deeds that are not in accordance with our matter (Islam), they will be rejected.' (Sahih Muslim 1718). Additionally, 'Actions are but by intentions, and for every person is what he intended.' (Sahih Bukhari 1, Sahih Muslim 1907)—emphasizing that without proper Islamic intention and faith, deeds hold no value.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that good works are only truly rewarded when performed with faith in Allah and sincere intention; without the foundation of tawhīd (monotheism), even outwardly righteous acts are hollow and will not benefit us before Allah. It should inspire believers to continually examine their intentions and ensure their actions are rooted in genuine faith and submission to Allah.