مَّنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا 15
Translations
Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.
Transliteration
Man ihtada fa-innama yahtadi li-nafsihi wa-man dalla fa-innama yadillu `alayha wa-la taziru waziratum wizra ukhra wa-ma kunna mu`aththibina hatta nab`atha rasulah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the principle of individual accountability: whoever is guided benefits themselves, and whoever goes astray harms themselves alone. The verse further emphasizes that no soul bears the burden of another's sin, and that Allah does not punish a people until He has sent them a messenger to warn them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari highlight this as a fundamental Islamic principle rejecting vicarious punishment and affirming personal moral responsibility before Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra (a Meccan surah revealed during the early Meccan period) and addresses the Meccan polytheists' rejection of the message. It contextualizes why the Quraysh cannot use ignorance as an excuse for disbelief, since they have received the clear message through Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The broader context emphasizes Allah's justice and the clarity of His guidance.
Related Hadiths
The principle is reinforced in a hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Each of you is a shepherd and each of you will be questioned about his flock.' This underscores individual accountability. Additionally, the Quranic principle echoes in 35:18: 'No laden soul can bear another's load.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Every individual is solely responsible for their spiritual journey and choices before Allah—neither can we blame others for our misguidance nor can we claim credit for others' righteousness. This liberating truth should inspire us to take ownership of our faith and conduct, knowing we will answer directly to Allah without intermediaries.