يَوْمَ يَتَذَكَّرُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَا سَعَىٰ 35
Translations
The Day when man will remember that for which he strove,
Transliteration
Yawma yatadakkaru al-insanu ma sa'a
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Day of Judgment when human beings will remember and become fully aware of all their deeds and efforts in the worldly life. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that this is a day of reckoning when all actions—good and bad—will be recalled with perfect clarity, and the soul will deeply regret any wrongs committed. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this remembrance will be accompanied by intense sorrow for those who squandered their time on disobedience, while those who strived righteously will rejoice.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nazi'at's vivid depiction of the Day of Judgment and the resurrection. It forms part of the surah's ascending description of eschatological events, building toward the accountability that awaits humanity. The broader context emphasizes the certainty of the afterlife and divine justice that awaits all souls.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The person will not move on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about four things: his life and how he spent it, his youth and how he used it, his wealth and how he earned and spent it, and his knowledge and what he did with it.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Every soul will taste death, and only on the Day of Judgment will you be paid your wages in full' (Quran 3:185), relating to this theme of remembrance and accountability.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers to live consciously, knowing that every action will be vividly recalled and judged. We should strive to ensure our life's work—our 'sa'y' (effort and striving)—is directed toward righteousness and obedience to Allah, not toward worldly pursuits that will bring only regret on that inevitable day.