لِيَجْزِىَ ٱللَّهُ كُلَّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ 51
Translations
So that Allāh will recompense every soul for what it earned. Indeed, Allāh is swift in account.
Transliteration
Liyajziya Allahu kulla nafsin ma kasabat. Inna Allaha sari'u al-hisab.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah will reward or punish each soul according to what it has earned through its deeds, emphasizing individual accountability on the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse establishes the principle of personal responsibility—no one bears the burden of another's actions. The phrase 'swift in reckoning' (sari'u al-hisab) underscores Allah's complete knowledge and swift justice, as He will assess all deeds without delay or error.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ibrahim, a Meccan surah that addresses the themes of Divine guidance, accountability, and the resurrection. Within the broader context of verses 51-52, it forms part of a passage describing the Day of Judgment where each soul will see its deeds presented before it, reinforcing the Quranic theme of personal responsibility for one's actions in the afterlife.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Each of you is a shepherd and each is responsible for his flock' (Sahih Bukhari 893), emphasizing individual accountability. Also relevant is the hadith: 'On the Day of Resurrection, no soul will find any good it had done presented before it except as it had done it' (Sunan Ibn Majah 4264), which directly relates to the concept of earning and recompense.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that we are individually accountable for our choices and actions, and that no excuse or intercession can alter the justice of Allah's reckoning. In modern life, this teaches us to be conscious of our intentions and deeds, knowing that Allah's justice is swift and perfect, encouraging moral consciousness and righteous conduct.
Related Ayahs
وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allāh. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed."
وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ رَبِّكُمْ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, "Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "Yes, but the word [i.e., decree] of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers."
كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُوٓا۟ أَن يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَا مِنْ غَمٍّ أُعِيدُوا۟ فِيهَا وَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلْحَرِيقِ
Every time they want to get out of it [i.e., Hellfire] from anguish, they will be returned to it, and [it will be said], "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire!"
إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَأْتِ رَبَّهُۥ مُجْرِمًا فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ
Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal - indeed, for him is Hell; he will neither die therein nor live.