وَلَوْ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ نَفْسٍ ظَلَمَتْ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لَٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ ۗ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۖ وَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ 54
Translations
And if each soul that wronged had everything on earth, it would offer it in ransom. And they will confide regret when they see the punishment; and they will be judged in justice, and they will not be wronged.
Transliteration
Wa law anna li-kulli nafsin zalamat ma fi al-ardi laftadat bihi wa asarru al-ndamata lamma rau al-adhab wa qudiya baynahum bil-qist wa hum la yuzhlamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when every wrongdoing soul will wish to ransom itself by offering all the wealth on earth, yet such redemption will be impossible. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the wrongdoers will conceal their regret upon witnessing the punishment, but their attempts at negotiation will be futile as Allah will judge between them with perfect justice. The ayah emphasizes that no wealth or possession can save one from divine accountability, and that justice on the Day of Judgment will be absolute with no oppression.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Yunus, a Meccan surah that addresses the disbelievers of Mecca. The broader context of this passage (10:50-54) discusses the certainty of the Day of Judgment and the futility of disbelievers' excuses and attempts to escape divine punishment, serving as a warning to those who deny the Hereafter.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'On the Day of Judgment, when a person sees the punishment, he will wish he had given away his wealth in charity' (related themes in various hadiths on the Day of Judgment). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari about wealth not availing on the Day of Judgment: 'Wealth and children adorn the worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (18:46).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that no amount of worldly wealth or possessions can purchase salvation or forgive our sins on the Day of Judgment; therefore, we must prioritize righteous deeds and accountability in this life rather than accumulating material wealth. It serves as a profound motivation to live ethically and seek Allah's forgiveness before it is too late.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُوا۟ مِنَّا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ ٱللَّهُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ حَسَرَٰتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَمَا هُم بِخَـٰرِجِينَ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ
Those who followed will say, "If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disassociate ourselves from them as they have disassociated themselves from us." Thus will Allāh show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they are never to emerge from the Fire.
أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَيْرٌ مُّسْتَقَرًّا وَأَحْسَنُ مَقِيلًا
The companions of Paradise, that Day, are [in] a better settlement and better resting place.
وَأَشْرَقَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا وَوُضِعَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ وَجِا۟ىٓءَ بِٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the record [of deeds] will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged.
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ أَتَتْكَ ءَايَـٰتُنَا فَنَسِيتَهَا ۖ وَكَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ تُنسَىٰ
[Allāh] will say, "Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot [i.e., disregarded] them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten."