وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ وَإِن تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمْلِهَا لَا يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَىْءٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰٓ ۗ إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ وَمَن تَزَكَّىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَتَزَكَّىٰ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ 18
Translations
And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls [another] to [carry some of] its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he should be a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer. And whoever purifies himself only purifies himself for [the benefit of] his soul. And to Allāh is the [final] destination.
Transliteration
Wa lā taziru wāziratun wizra ukhrā, wa in tad'u muthqalatun ilā himlihā lā yuhamalu minhu shay'un wa law kāna dhā qurbā. Innamā tundhiru alladhīna yakhshawna rabbahum bil-ghaybi wa aqāmū aṣ-ṣalāh. Wa man tazakkā fa-innamā yatazakkā li-nafsih. Wa ilā Allāhi al-maṣīr.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the fundamental Islamic principle that no soul bears the burden of another's sin—each person is accountable only for their own deeds. Even if a heavily burdened person calls upon a relative to share their burden, none can be transferred, highlighting personal responsibility before Allah. The ayah then emphasizes that true warning benefits only those who fear their Lord in private (unseen) and establish prayer, and that purification and good deeds ultimately benefit one's own soul, with all affairs returning to Allah for final judgment.
Revelation Context
Surah Fatir is a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists of Mecca. This particular ayah appears in the context of addressing human responsibility and the futility of shirk (polytheism), as idols cannot intercede or share burdens. The theme reflects the Meccan period's emphasis on individual accountability and monotheism against pagan practices of intercession through idols.
Related Hadiths
The principle of personal accountability is reinforced in a hadith from Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Each of you is a guardian and each of you is responsible for his charges' (Kulu-kum rā'in wa kulu-kum mas'ul 'an ra'iyyatih). Additionally, this aligns with the hadith in Sunan Ibn Mājah that 'deeds are by intentions' (An-niyyat), emphasizing personal moral agency.
Themes
Key Lesson
Each person must recognize their sole responsibility for their actions and cannot rely on others or false intercessors to lighten their burden on the Day of Judgment. True spiritual growth comes from sincere obedience to Allah, regular prayer, and God-consciousness, understanding that all good deeds ultimately benefit one's own soul, making personal integrity and authentic faith the foundation of a meaningful spiritual life.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ ۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
O mankind, indeed the promise of Allāh is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allāh by the Deceiver [i.e., Satan].
ٱسْتِكْبَارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَكْرَ ٱلسَّيِّئِ ۚ وَلَا يَحِيقُ ٱلْمَكْرُ ٱلسَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِۦ ۚ فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ۚ فَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا ۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَحْوِيلًا
[Due to] arrogance in the land and plotting of evil; but the evil plot does not encompass except its own people. Then do they await except the way [i.e., fate] of the former peoples? But you will never find in the way [i.e., established method] of Allāh any change, and you will never find in the way of Allāh any alteration.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا ۚ وَإِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ
Indeed, We have sent you with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And there was no nation but that there had passed within it a warner.
أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَكَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُۥ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? And they were greater than them in power. But Allāh is not to be caused failure [i.e., prevented] by anything in the heavens or on the earth. Indeed, He is ever Knowing and Competent.