وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُۥ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ 40
Translations
And that his effort is going to be seen -
Transliteration
Wa anna saʿyahu sawfa yura
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that every person's efforts and deeds will be seen and witnessed by Allah on the Day of Judgment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the comprehensive knowledge Allah possesses of all human actions, and the manifestation of these deeds in the afterlife when they will be presented before all creation. The verse emphasizes divine accountability and the certainty that no effort—whether good or evil—will go unnoticed or unrewarded.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Najm, a Meccan surah that addresses fundamental Islamic beliefs including divine unity, the reality of the Day of Judgment, and accountability. The broader context (verses 39-42) discusses human responsibility and the consequences of deeds, emphasizing that a person's actions determine their eternal fate.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 4951: The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock,' emphasizing personal accountability for one's deeds. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah 4228 relates to the recording of deeds by angels, which connects to the witnessing of actions mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah encourages believers to be conscious of their actions at all times, knowing that Allah witnesses everything and every effort will be accounted for. It serves as a powerful reminder to align our intentions and actions with Islamic principles, since ultimate success depends on the quality of our striving in this life.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّن نَّفَقَةٍ أَوْ نَذَرْتُم مِّن نَّذْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُهُۥ ۗ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
And whatever you spend of expenditures or make of vows - indeed, Allāh knows of it. And for the wrongdoers there are no helpers.
۞ إِلَيْهِ يُرَدُّ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ ۚ وَمَا تَخْرُجُ مِن ثَمَرَٰتٍ مِّنْ أَكْمَامِهَا وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِۦ ۚ وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِى قَالُوٓا۟ ءَاذَنَّـٰكَ مَا مِنَّا مِن شَهِيدٍ
To Him [alone] is attributed knowledge of the Hour. And fruits emerge not from their coverings nor does a female conceive or give birth except with His knowledge. And the Day He will call to them, "Where are My 'partners'?" they will say, "We announce to You that there is [no longer] among us any witness [to that]."
يَوْمَئِذٍ تُعْرَضُونَ لَا تَخْفَىٰ مِنكُمْ خَافِيَةٌ
That Day, you will be exhibited [for judgement]; not hidden among you is anything concealed.
أَعِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ فَهُوَ يَرَىٰٓ
Does he have knowledge of the unseen, so he sees?