أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ 22
Translations
They are the ones whose deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and for them there will be no helpers.
Transliteration
Ulā'ika alladhīna ḥabiṭat a'māluhu fī ad-dunyā wa-al-ākhirah wa-mā lahum min nāṣirīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who reject faith and commit heinous acts (referenced in the preceding verses about those who disbelieve and slay the prophets), whose deeds become nullified (ḥabiṭa) in both this world and the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that their good deeds are rendered worthless due to their kufr (disbelief), and they will have no helpers or protectors on the Day of Judgment. The ayah emphasizes that rejection of truth destroys the value of all actions, regardless of outward righteousness.
Revelation Context
This verse appears within the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of the People of the Book and those who rejected Allah's signs. It follows verses condemning those who killed the prophets unjustly and follows the statement of their arrogance. The broader context addresses the consequences of rejecting divine guidance and persisting in disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever commits an act of disbelief while having knowledge of Islam, his deeds are nullified' (related theme in various works of tafsir). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the nullification of deeds: 'When a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three...' which contrasts with those whose deeds are nullified while living.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true success is not measured by outward actions alone, but by sincere belief and submission to Allah—without which no deed has lasting value. For believers, it serves as a reminder to maintain firm faith, as disbelief ultimately renders all efforts futile in both worlds.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allāh and kill the prophets without right and kill those who order justice from among the people - give them tidings of a painful punishment.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّـٰتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ ٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ
Those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers.
لَقَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
Certainly did Allāh confer [great] favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] and wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تُطِيعُوا۟ فَرِيقًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَرُدُّوكُم بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ كَـٰفِرِينَ
O you who have believed, if you obey a party of those who were given the Scripture, they would turn you back, after your belief, [to being] unbelievers.