قُلْ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّى عَامِلٌ ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن تَكُونُ لَهُۥ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ 135
Translations
Say, "O my people, work according to your position; [for] indeed, I am working. And you are going to know who will have succession in the home. Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed."
Transliteration
Qul yā qawmi 'amalū 'alā makānatikum innī 'āmilun fasawfa ta'lamūn man takūnu lahū 'āqibatu ad-dāri innahu lā yuflihu az-zālimūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to tell his people to continue in their disbelief and opposition, for he will persist in calling them to Allah's way, and soon they will witness who will attain the good end in the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah contains a powerful challenge and warning: the ultimate outcome belongs only to those who follow the truth, and oppressors will inevitably fail. The phrase 'āqibatu ad-dāri (the end of the Hereafter) is key—the final consequence that truly matters is eternal, not temporary worldly advantage.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period when the Quraysh persistently rejected the Prophet's message despite his clear warnings. It reflects the broader context of Surah Al-An'am, which emphasizes the inevitability of Allah's judgment and the futility of opposing His signs, addressing the Meccan polytheists' stubborn resistance to monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The hadith reported in Tirmidhi wherein the Prophet said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' relates thematically to the unwavering call to truth. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim: 'The best jihad is a word of truth before a tyrannical ruler,' reflecting the courage required to maintain one's stance as shown in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that remaining firm on the path of truth, regardless of opposition or ridicule, is paramount—for success is ultimately measured by the Hereafter, not by worldly acceptance. Modern readers should find courage in the knowledge that while truth may face temporary rejection, injustice and falsehood are inherently destined to fail, making unwavering conviction and patient perseverance the true markers of wisdom.
Related Ayahs
فَقَدْ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِيهِمْ أَنۢبَـٰٓؤُا۟ مَا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
For they had denied the truth when it came to them, but there is going to reach them the news of what they used to ridicule.
قُلْ إِنِّى نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ قُل لَّآ أَتَّبِعُ أَهْوَآءَكُمْ ۙ قَدْ ضَلَلْتُ إِذًا وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Say, "Indeed, I have been forbidden to worship those you invoke besides Allāh." Say, "I will not follow your desires, for I would then have gone astray, and I would not be of the [rightly] guided."
أَفَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْتَغِى حَكَمًا وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مُفَصَّلًا ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُۥ مُنَزَّلٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُمْتَرِينَ
[Say], "Then is it other than Allāh I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] explained in detail?" And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture know that it is sent down from your Lord in truth, so never be among the doubters.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن طِينٍ ثُمَّ قَضَىٰٓ أَجَلًا ۖ وَأَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى عِندَهُۥ ۖ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تَمْتَرُونَ
It is He who created you from clay and then decreed a term and a specified time [known] to Him; then [still] you are in dispute.