إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِم مِّلْءُ ٱلْأَرْضِ ذَهَبًا وَلَوِ ٱفْتَدَىٰ بِهِۦٓ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ 91
Translations
Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - never would the [whole] capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would [seek to] ransom himself with it. For those there will be a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina kafaroo wa maatoo wa hum kuffar falan yuqbala min ahadihim milaa al-ardi dhahaban wa law iftada bihi. Ulaika lahum adhab aleem wa ma lahum min nasirin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that those who die in a state of disbelief will have no acceptance of their deeds or ransom on the Day of Judgment, even if they could offer the entire earth filled with gold as redemption. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse closes all doors of hope for the disbeliever after death, making clear that repentance is only accepted in this life before the moment of death arrives.
Revelation Context
Surah Ali 'Imran (Chapter 3) is Medinan and addresses both the People of the Book and the broader Muslim community. This particular ayah appears in a section discussing the finality of one's state at death and the reality of the Hereafter, reinforcing the urgency of accepting faith during one's lifetime. It follows verses about the consequences of rejecting Allah's signs.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'When the son of Adam dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: a continuing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him' (Sahih Muslim 1631). Additionally, the hadith about the barrier (barzakh) between this life and the next emphasizes that no return or change of state occurs after death (Sahih Bukhari 1377).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no amount of worldly wealth or status can save one from divine punishment if one dies as a disbeliever, emphasizing the paramount importance of faith and sincere repentance while still alive. For believers, it serves as a reminder of the preciousness of faith and the critical nature of guiding others to Islam before death overtakes them.
Related Ayahs
بَلَىٰٓ ۚ إِن تَصْبِرُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ وَيَأْتُوكُم مِّن فَوْرِهِمْ هَـٰذَا يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِخَمْسَةِ ءَالَـٰفٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ
Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allāh and they [i.e., the enemy] come upon you [attacking] in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction]."
شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Allāh witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
سَنُلْقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلرُّعْبَ بِمَآ أَشْرَكُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا ۖ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve for what they have associated with Allāh of which He had not sent down [any] authority. And their refuge will be the Fire, and wretched is the residence of the wrongdoers.
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِۦٓ إِخْوَٰنًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And hold firmly to the rope of Allāh all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allāh upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.