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
بَلَىٰ مَن كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةً وَأَحَـٰطَتْ بِهِۦ خَطِيٓـَٔتُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Yes, [on the contrary], whoever earns evil and his sin has encompassed him - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ مَن تُدْخِلِ ٱلنَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُۥ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
Our Lord, indeed whoever You admit to the Fire - You have disgraced him, and for the wrongdoers there are no helpers.
أَفَمَن يَتَّقِى بِوَجْهِهِۦ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ وَقِيلَ لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ذُوقُوا۟ مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ
Then is he who will shield with his face the worst of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection [like one secure from it]? And it will be said to the wrongdoers, "Taste what you used to earn."
وَقَالُوا۟ لَن تَمَسَّنَا ٱلنَّارُ إِلَّآ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَةً ۚ قُلْ أَتَّخَذْتُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَهْدًا فَلَن يُخْلِفَ ٱللَّهُ عَهْدَهُۥٓ ۖ أَمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And they say, "Never will the Fire touch us, except for [a few] numbered days." Say, "Have you taken a covenant with Allāh? For Allāh will never break His covenant. Or do you say about Allāh that which you do not know?"