عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ وَأَخَّرَتْ 5
Translations
A soul will [then] know what it has put forth and kept back.
Transliteration
Alimat nafsun ma qaddamat wa akhkharat
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah means that every soul will come to know on the Day of Judgment what deeds it has sent forward (good actions that will benefit it in the afterlife) and what it has held back or delayed (neglected obligations and missed opportunities). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the complete knowledge and accountability each soul will have regarding its deeds, with nothing hidden or forgotten. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this knowledge will bring either joy or regret, as the soul realizes the consequences of its earthly choices.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Infitar, a Meccan chapter that vividly describes the Day of Judgment and the cosmic upheaval that will occur. The surah establishes themes of divine accountability and the certainty of resurrection, contextualizing this ayah within warnings to the Meccan polytheists about the inescapable reckoning that awaits all souls.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Each of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charges' (Sahih Bukhari 2786), emphasizing personal accountability. Also relevant: 'A person's feet will not move on the Day of Judgment until they are asked about four things: their life and how they spent it, their youth and what they did with it, their wealth and how they earned and spent it, and their knowledge and what they did with it' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2417).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that our actions have eternal consequences and that we will be fully aware of every choice we made in this life. We should live with consciousness of accountability, striving to send forward righteous deeds and avoid wasting our time and opportunities in worldly pursuits.