وَمَا يَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلَن يُكْفَرُوهُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلْمُتَّقِينَ 115
Translations
And whatever good they do - never will it be denied them. And Allāh is Knowing of the righteous.
Transliteration
Wa mā yaf'alū min khayrin fa lan yukffarūh, wa-Allāhu 'alīmun bi-l-muttaqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah assures believers that no good deed will go unrewarded or unrecognized by Allah, emphasizing His perfect knowledge and justice. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this verse provides comfort to the righteous (muttaqīn), assuring them that Allah fully appreciates their efforts and sincere intentions, regardless of whether others acknowledge or belittle their deeds. The phrase 'Allah is All-Knowing of the righteous' underscores that Allah's knowledge is not limited to actions alone but extends to the hearts and sincere motivations of those who fear Him.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan surah Ali 'Imran, which addresses the Muslim community after the Battle of Uhud and discusses faith, steadfastness, and divine reward. The broader context emphasizes encouraging believers facing hardship and doubt to remain faithful, as Allah witnesses and rewards their good deeds and piety even when worldly recognition is absent.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Sunan al-Tirmidhī). Additionally, 'Whoever performs a good deed, it will not be lost; and whoever performs an evil deed, it will not be forgotten' echoes the theme of divine accountability and reward for righteous actions.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should perform good deeds sincerely for Allah's sake, trusting that He will never overlook or diminish their efforts, regardless of human recognition or ingratitude. This cultivates spiritual resilience and motivates continuous righteousness even when results are unseen, anchoring faith in Allah's perfect justice rather than worldly validation.
Related Ayahs
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
But as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards, and Allāh does not like the wrongdoers.
أَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَلَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰ نُزُلًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them will be the Gardens of Refuge as accommodation for what they used to do.
لِّيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
That He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds. Those will have forgiveness and noble provision.
۞ لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَىٰهُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ
Not upon you, [O Muḥammad], is [responsibility for] their guidance, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And whatever good you [believers] spend is for yourselves, and you do not spend except seeking the face [i.e., approval] of Allāh. And whatever you spend of good - it will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.