قُل لَّا تُسْـَٔلُونَ عَمَّآ أَجْرَمْنَا وَلَا نُسْـَٔلُ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ 25
Translations
Say, "You will not be asked about what we committed, and we will not be asked about what you do."
Transliteration
Qul lā tusjālūna ʿammā ajramnā wa lā nusʾal ʿammā taʿmalūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to tell the disbelievers that they will not be questioned about the sins of the Muslims, nor will the Muslims be questioned about the disbelievers' deeds on the Day of Judgment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes the principle that each person bears responsibility only for their own actions, refuting the pagan Arabs' attempt to hold the Prophet accountable for their own transgressions and establishing that divine justice operates on individual accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Saba, a Meccan surah revealed during the period when the Prophet faced intense opposition from Quraysh. The verse is part of a broader context addressing the arguments and accusations leveled against the Prophet by disbelievers who attempted to deflect responsibility for their own rejection of faith.
Related Hadiths
The principle is supported by Quranic elaboration in Surah Al-Isra (17:15): 'There is no burden on any soul except that which it bears' (Sahih Muslim 2577). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3318) emphasizes personal accountability: 'Each of you is a guardian and each of you will be asked about those in his custody.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that we are solely responsible for our own actions and beliefs before Allah, and cannot be held accountable for others' sins, nor can we blame others for our own choices. It encourages believers to focus on personal righteousness rather than judging or being preoccupied with others' spiritual states.