تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ ۖ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبْتُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُسْـَٔلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 134
Translations
That was a nation which has passed on. It will have [the consequence of] what it earned, and you will have what you have earned. And you will not be asked about what they used to do.
Transliteration
Tilka ummatum qad khalat, laha ma kasabat wa lakum ma kasabtum, wa la tus'alun amma kanu ya'malun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the principle of individual accountability and responsibility in the Hereafter, stating that each community (past generations) will be judged according to their own deeds, and the current Muslim ummah will similarly be judged by theirs. Ibn Kathir explains this refutes the notion that believers can inherit the righteousness of their forefathers or be held accountable for others' actions, emphasizing that each soul bears its own burden of responsibility before Allah. Al-Qurtubi notes this addresses the Jewish and Christian assertions of inheriting salvation through their ancestors, clarifying that deeds are personal and cannot be transferred.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of the Abrahamic tradition and disputes with the People of the Book. It responds to Jewish and Christian claims of exclusive salvation based on lineage, establishing the Quranic principle that spiritual status is earned through personal obedience to Allah, not inherited through ancestry or community membership.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Each soul is responsible for what it has earned, and no soul shall bear the burden of another' (related to the principle in 17:15). Additionally, in Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet clarified that on the Day of Judgment, lineage will not benefit anyone except through personal righteous deeds.
Themes
Key Lesson
Each person stands alone before Allah on the Day of Judgment, accountable only for their own intentions and actions—neither the piety of ancestors nor the claims of inherited faith can substitute for personal obedience and righteousness. This encourages Muslims to focus on their own spiritual development rather than relying on family legacy or community status.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَـٰذَا بَلَدًا ءَامِنًا وَٱرْزُقْ أَهْلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ مِنْهُم بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۖ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُۥ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits - whoever of them believes in Allāh and the Last Day." [Allāh] said, "And whoever disbelieves - I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination."
قُلْ أَتُحَآجُّونَنَا فِى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ وَلَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُخْلِصُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Do you argue with us about Allāh while He is our Lord and your Lord? For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. And we are sincere [in deed and intention] to Him."
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَسَوَّىٰهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَٰتٍ ۚ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to the heaven, [His being above all creation], and made them seven heavens, and He is Knowing of all things.
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ فِرَٰشًا وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءً وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
[He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not attribute to Allāh equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].