فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُۥ 7
Translations
So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it,
Transliteration
Faman ya'mal mithqala dharratin khayran yarah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah conveys that whoever performs even the smallest good deed—equivalent in weight to an atom—will see its reward on the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this establishes the principle of divine justice and accountability, where no deed is insignificant in Allah's sight. The ayah encourages believers to perform good deeds regardless of their apparent smallness, knowing that Allah's recompense is both certain and all-encompassing.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zalzalah was revealed in Medina and describes the events of the Day of Judgment, particularly the earthquake that will shake the earth. This ayah appears in the context of Allah's perfect justice on that Day, assuring believers that their deeds—whether great or small—will be witnessed and rewarded. It forms part of the surah's broader theme of divine accountability and the balance of deeds.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever performs a good deed, even if it is as small as a mustard seed, Allah will bring it forth on the Day of Judgment' (a similar concept to this ayah, supported by various hadith collections). Also related is the hadith: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), emphasizing the value of small consistent good deeds.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no good action is ever wasted or insignificant in the eyes of Allah; even the smallest act of kindness, sincerity, or obedience carries weight and will be rewarded. For modern believers, this is a powerful reminder to perform consistent good deeds with intention, knowing that Allah sees and values every effort, no matter how humble it may appear.
Related Ayahs
ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتُخْرِجُونَ فَرِيقًا مِّنكُم مِّن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ تَظَـٰهَرُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَإِن يَأْتُوكُمْ أُسَـٰرَىٰ تُفَـٰدُوهُمْ وَهُوَ مُحَرَّمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِخْرَاجُهُمْ ۚ أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ فَمَا جَزَآءُ مَن يَفْعَلُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْىٌ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَشَدِّ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Then, you are those [same ones who are] killing one another and evicting a party of your people from their homes, cooperating against them in sin and aggression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although their eviction was forbidden to you. So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allāh is not unaware of what you do.
قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ إِنِّى كَانَ لِى قَرِينٌ
A speaker among them will say, "Indeed, I had a companion [on earth].
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَقَالُوا۟ يَـٰلَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَلَا نُكَذِّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّنَا وَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
If you could but see when they are made to stand before the Fire and will say, "Oh, would that we could be returned [to life on earth] and not deny the signs of our Lord and be among the believers."
لَا يُفَتَّرُ عَنْهُمْ وَهُمْ فِيهِ مُبْلِسُونَ
It will not be allowed to subside for them, and they, therein, are in despair.