ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ 7
Translations
Those who disbelieve will have a severe punishment, and those who believe and do righteous deeds will have forgiveness and great reward.
Transliteration
Alladhina kafaroo lahum adhābun shadīd, wa-alladhina āmanoo wa-amiloo as-sālihāt lahum maghfirah wa-ajrun kabīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a stark contrast between two groups: those who reject faith (the disbelievers) who will face severe punishment, and those who believe and perform righteous deeds who will receive forgiveness and tremendous reward. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this verse encapsulates the fundamental Islamic principle of divine justice—that actions have eternal consequences, with disbelief leading to punishment and faith combined with good deeds leading to divine mercy and abundant reward.
Revelation Context
Surah Fatir is a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists of Mecca who rejected the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This ayah appears in the context of warnings about the consequences of kufr (disbelief) and encouragement for believers, reflecting the early Meccan period's emphasis on monotheism and accountability in the afterlife.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Actions are but by intentions, and each person shall have but that which he intended' (Sahih Bukhari 1). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the seven categories of people shaded by Allah's throne on the Day of Judgment emphasizes that righteous deeds coupled with faith bring divine protection and reward.
Themes
Key Lesson
Faith without righteous action is incomplete; believers must pair their belief with good deeds to attain forgiveness and divine reward. This ayah reminds us that our choices have eternal significance and encourages consistent moral conduct as an expression of sincere faith in Allah.
Related Ayahs
أَكُفَّارُكُمْ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكُمْ أَمْ لَكُم بَرَآءَةٌ فِى ٱلزُّبُرِ
Are your disbelievers better than those [former ones], or have you immunity in the scriptures?
تَرَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ وَهُوَ وَاقِعٌۢ بِهِمْ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فِى رَوْضَاتِ ٱلْجَنَّاتِ ۖ لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَضْلُ ٱلْكَبِيرُ
You will see the wrongdoers fearful of what they have earned, and it will [certainly] befall them. And those who have believed and done righteous deeds will be in lush regions of the gardens [in Paradise] having whatever they will in the presence of their Lord. That is what is the great bounty.
وَبَدَا لَهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And the evil consequences of what they did will appear to them, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
وَوُضِعَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَـٰوَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحْصَىٰهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا۟ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.