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
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ ٱلْكَلِمُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ وَٱلْعَمَلُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُ يَرْفَعُهُۥ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۖ وَمَكْرُ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ
Whoever desires honor [through power] - then to Allāh belongs all honor. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it. But they who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those - it will perish.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ هَلْ مِنْ خَـٰلِقٍ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ
O mankind, remember the favor of Allāh upon you. Is there any creator other than Allāh who provides for you from the heaven and earth? There is no deity except Him, so how are you deluded?
وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَبِٱلزُّبُرِ وَبِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُنِيرِ
And if they deny you - then already have those before them denied. Their messengers came to them with clear proofs and written ordinances and with the enlightening Scripture.
وَمَا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْبَصِيرُ
Not equal are the blind and the seeing,