أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ 38
Translations
That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another
Transliteration
Allā taziru wāziratun wizra ukhrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms the fundamental Islamic principle that no soul shall bear the burden of another's sins—each person is accountable only for their own deeds. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize this as a divine justice principle, rejecting any concept of inherited guilt or vicarious punishment. The ayah establishes that on the Day of Judgment, responsibility is individual and cannot be transferred or shared.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Najm, a Meccan chapter dealing with the Day of Judgment, divine attributes, and the accountability of mankind. It comes in a section addressing the beliefs of the disbelievers and reinforcing core Islamic doctrines about resurrection and divine justice. The broader context concerns the certainty of the afterlife and God's perfect justice.
Related Hadiths
The principle is supported by Hadith Qudsi: 'O son of Adam, I forgive you for the first sin, the second sin, and the third sin. But as for the fourth sin, I will not forgive you' (Tirmidhi), emphasizing individual accountability. Also relevant is the Quranic parallel in Surah Al-Isra (17:15): 'No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah provides profound reassurance that we are answerable only for our own choices and actions, not for others' sins or failures, liberating us from guilt about circumstances beyond our control while emphasizing our personal moral responsibility before Allah.