وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍۭ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ ٱلظَّمْـَٔانُ مَآءً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَهُۥ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْـًٔا وَوَجَدَ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ فَوَفَّىٰهُ حِسَابَهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ 39
Translations
But those who disbelieved - their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing but finds Allāh before him, and He will pay him in full his due; and Allāh is swift in account.
Transliteration
Wa alladhina kafaroo a'maaluhum kasarabin biqee'atin yahsabuhu adh-dhama'anu maa'an hatta idha jaa'ahu lam yajid hu shay'an wa wajada Allaha 'indahu fa waffahu hisaabahu wa Allahu sari'u al-hisab
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the deeds of disbelievers as a mirage in a barren desert—what appears to be water to the thirsty traveler is actually nothing when approached. Ibn Kathir explains that the disbeliever's good deeds in this worldly life appear valuable to them, but on the Day of Judgment, they will find their deeds have no worth or acceptance before Allah. Al-Qurtubi notes that this comparison emphasizes the futility of deeds performed without faith (iman) and sincere intention (niyyah), as only actions grounded in submission to Allah have true value.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Nur is a Medinan surah dealing with matters of purity, modesty, and legal rulings. This ayah appears in a section discussing the consequences of disbelief and the reality of the afterlife, contextualizing the reward and punishment framework of Islamic theology. The imagery of the mirage serves as a powerful metaphorical lesson about the ephemeral nature of worldly pursuits disconnected from divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (SAW) said: 'Verily, Allah does not look at your appearances or your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds' (Sahih Muslim 2564). Additionally, 'Actions are but by intentions, and every person shall have only that which he intended' (Sahih Bukhari 1, Sahih Muslim 1907), emphasizing that deeds without faith and proper intention bear no weight.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that worldly achievements and good deeds without faith in Allah are ultimately empty and illusory; true success lies in aligning one's actions with sincere belief and submission to the Divine. For modern readers, it serves as a spiritual warning that external success, wealth, or social standing mean nothing without a foundation of genuine faith and consciousness of Allah (taqwa).