فَٱلْيَوْمَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنكُمْ فِدْيَةٌ وَلَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ مَأْوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ هِىَ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ 15
Translations
So today no ransom will be taken from you or from those who disbelieved. Your refuge is the Fire. It is most worthy of you, and wretched is the destination."
Transliteration
Fa-al-yawma la yu'khadhu minkum fidyatun wa la mina alladhina kafaroo. Ma'wakum al-naru hiya mawlakum wa bi'sa al-masir.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that on the Day of Judgment, neither believers who fell short in their faith nor disbelievers will be able to offer any ransom or compensation to escape punishment; their final abode is the Fire, which becomes their master/protector, and it is indeed a terrible destination. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this verse establishes the absolute justice of Allah on the Day of Judgment, where no wealth, intercession, or plea can alter one's fate if they died in disbelief or with insufficient faith. The phrase 'mawlakum' (your master/protector) is particularly significant, as it inverts the relationship—rather than being protected, the disbelievers become subject to the Fire itself.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Hadid is a Medinan chapter that addresses both believers and disbelievers regarding the nature of faith, wealth, and the afterlife. This particular ayah appears in a section (57:12-15) discussing the Day of Judgment and the separation of the righteous from the wicked, serving as a powerful warning about the irreversibility of one's choices on that day.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'No soul will enter Paradise except as a mercy from Allah,' and regarding the Fire, 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should either speak good or remain silent' (Sahih Bukhari, 6018), emphasizing that actions and faith, not wealth or status, determine one's fate. Additionally, Surah Al-Hadid 57:11 pairs with this ayah regarding spending in the way of Allah before the Day when no ransom will be accepted.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that no amount of wealth, status, or worldly possessions can save us on the Day of Judgment—only sincere faith and righteous deeds matter. It serves as an urgent call to prioritize our spiritual development today, for tomorrow's choices cannot be undone or bargained away.