فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا 173
Translations
And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allāh any protector or helper.
Transliteration
Fa-amma alladhina amanu wa 'amilu as-salihati fa-yuwaffihim ujurahum wa-yaziduhum min fadlihi wa-amma alladhina istankafuu wa-astakbaru fa-yu'adhdhibuhum 'adhaban aliman wa-la yajiduna lahum min duni-Allah waliyyan wa-la nasiran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a stark contrast between two groups on the Day of Judgment: those who believed and performed righteous deeds will receive their full rewards and additional bounty from Allah's grace, while those who refused faith arrogantly and rejected the truth will receive painful punishment with no protector or helper besides Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah encapsulates the fundamental principle of divine justice—reward for obedience and punishment for defiance—establishing that no one can intercede for the arrogant rejectors on that Day.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nisa, a Medinan chapter, within the context of establishing principles of accountability and justice in the Muslim community. It follows discussions about Allah's knowledge and authority, reinforcing the theme that Allah is All-Knowing of deeds and will judge accordingly on the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim (2808): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever is humble for the sake of Allah, Allah will exalt him.' This directly contrasts with the 'istikbar' (arrogance) mentioned in the ayah. Additionally, the Hadith Qudsi in Sahih Muslim relates that Allah says He will punish the arrogant and elevate the humble.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true success lies not merely in belief, but in combining sincere faith with righteous actions, while arrogance and rejection of truth lead to inevitable ruin with no refuge or support. For modern believers, it serves as a reminder to cultivate humility, perform good deeds sincerely, and recognize that ultimate justice and protection come only from Allah.
Related Ayahs
عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّآ أَحْضَرَتْ
A soul will [then] know what it has brought [with it].
فَمَنْ حَآجَّكَ فِيهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا۟ نَدْعُ أَبْنَآءَنَا وَأَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
Then whoever argues with you about it after [this] knowledge has come to you - say, "Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then supplicate earnestly [together] and invoke the curse of Allāh upon the liars [among us]."
وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوهَا خَـٰلِدِينَ
But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, "Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein," [they will enter].
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَـٰفِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ
And never think that Allāh is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them [i.e., their account] for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror].