عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 93
Translations
About what they used to do.
Transliteration
Amma kanu ya'malun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This phrase means 'for what they used to do,' appearing at the end of Ayah 15:93 which describes the punishment and recompense of those who rejected the message. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes that Allah's punishment is a direct consequence of people's own deeds and rejection of truth. The phrase underscores divine justice—that Allah does not punish arbitrarily but in response to deliberate wrongdoing.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in Surah Al-Hijr, a Meccan chapter addressing the polytheists of Mecca who rejected Prophet Muhammad's message. The broader context of verses 93-96 discusses the accountability of those who deny the signs of Allah and their eventual punishment, reinforcing the theme of divine justice and the certainty of the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected here relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'Whoever does an atom's weight of good shall see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil shall see it' (Sahih Muslim 2687), emphasizing that all deeds return to their doer. Additionally, the Hadith 'Actions are judged by intentions' (Sahih Bukhari 1) complements the accountability theme.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that every action has consequences and that Allah's justice is perfect—no deed goes unnoticed or unrewarded. It serves as a powerful motivation for believers to be mindful of their actions in this life, knowing they will answer for them before Allah.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا۟ كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۭ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَـٰبَهُمْ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
[Mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand - those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed].
وَقَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلتَّنَاوُشُ مِن مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيدٍ
And they will [then] say, "We believe in it!" But how for them will be the taking [of faith] from a place far away?
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَ
And your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers.
فَلَنَقُصَّنَّ عَلَيْهِم بِعِلْمٍ ۖ وَمَا كُنَّا غَآئِبِينَ
Then We will surely relate [their deeds] to them with knowledge, and We were not [at all] absent.