An-Nisa · Ayah 123

لَّيْسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمْ وَلَآ أَمَانِىِّ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ۗ مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوٓءًا يُجْزَ بِهِۦ وَلَا يَجِدْ لَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا 123

Translations

It [i.e., Paradise] is not [obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allāh a protector or a helper.

Transliteration

Laysa bi-amaniyyikum wa-la amaniyy ahl al-kitab. Man ya'mal su'an yujaz bihi wa-la yajid lahu min dun Allah waliyyan wa-la nasiran.

Tafsir (Explanation)

This ayah refutes the false hopes and wishful thinking of both Muslims and People of the Book who believe their mere profession of faith or lineage will guarantee Paradise without righteous deeds. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the verse emphasizes that salvation is not attained through idle wishes or genealogical claims, but through actual righteous action, and warns that whoever commits evil will face its consequences with no protector or helper besides Allah to intercede or save them.

Revelation Context

This ayah addresses a historical reality in Medina where both some Muslims and the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) harbored false confidence in their salvation. The context of Surah An-Nisa, which addresses community laws and ethics, makes this a crucial reminder that belief must be paired with action. It follows verses discussing inheritance and women's rights, emphasizing that true success comes through ethical conduct rather than assumptions.

Related Hadiths

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari 13), emphasizing that faith requires actionable virtue. Additionally, 'Actions are judged by intentions' (Sahih Bukhari 1) demonstrates that deeds themselves must be coupled with sincere purpose, not mere wishes.

Themes

False confidence and wishful thinkingThe necessity of righteous deeds alongside beliefDivine justice and accountabilityRefutation of false claims to salvationNo intercession without Allah's permission

Key Lesson

Muslims must not rely on empty hopes or assumed righteousness, but actively strive to perform good deeds and avoid evil, understanding that accountability before Allah is inescapable and personal. This ayah serves as a sobering reminder that faith without action is hollow, and encourages sincere, conscious effort toward virtue in daily life.

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Related Ayahs

4:154An-Nisa

وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَهُمُ ٱلطُّورَ بِمِيثَـٰقِهِمْ وَقُلْنَا لَهُمُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ لَا تَعْدُوا۟ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَـٰقًا غَلِيظًا

And We raised over them the mount for [refusal of] their covenant; and We said to them, "Enter the gate bowing humbly"; and We said to them, "Do not transgress on the sabbath"; and We took from them a solemn covenant.

4:120An-Nisa

يَعِدُهُمْ وَيُمَنِّيهِمْ ۖ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا

He [i.e., Satan] promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.

4:77An-Nisa

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ قِيلَ لَهُمْ كُفُّوٓا۟ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَخْشَوْنَ ٱلنَّاسَ كَخَشْيَةِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ أَشَدَّ خَشْيَةً ۚ وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لِمَ كَتَبْتَ عَلَيْنَا ٱلْقِتَالَ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ ۗ قُلْ مَتَـٰعُ ٱلدُّنْيَا قَلِيلٌ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا

Have you not seen those who were told, "Restrain your hands [from fighting] and establish prayer and give zakāh"? But then when battle was ordained for them, at once a party of them feared men as they fear Allāh or with [even] greater fear. They said, "Our Lord, why have You decreed upon us fighting? If only You had postponed [it for] us for a short time." Say, "The enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who fears Allāh. And injustice will not be done to you, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]."

4:7An-Nisa

لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلْوَٰلِدَانِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبُونَ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلْوَٰلِدَانِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبُونَ مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنْهُ أَوْ كَثُرَ ۚ نَصِيبًا مَّفْرُوضًا

For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much - an obligatory share.