قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَـٰلًا 103
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Shall we [believers] inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds?
Transliteration
Qul hal nunabbikum bil-akhsireena a'mala
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad to ask the disbelievers if He should inform them about those who are greatest losers in their deeds. This ayah introduces a rhetorical question that leads to the description of those whose efforts in this life are entirely wasted—namely, those who disbelieve and whose good deeds are nullified because they are not done with sincere faith in Allah. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this refers to those whose deeds lack the foundation of tawheed (monotheism) and sincere intention, rendering all their worldly accomplishments meaningless in the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the end of Surah Al-Kahf and serves as a rhetorical lead-in to verses 103-106, which describe the disbelievers whose deeds are wasted. The surah's broader context focuses on testing of faith and the consequences of rejecting Allah's guidance, making this verse thematically central to the surah's message about the ultimate value of sincere belief.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The deeds most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small' (Sahih Bukhari 6464). Additionally, the principle is established in multiple hadiths that deeds without sincere intention (niyyah) are rejected, as in: 'Verily, deeds are judged by intentions' (Sahih Bukhari 1, Sahih Muslim 1907).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that worldly success, wealth, and accomplishments are truly worthless without the foundation of sincere belief in Allah; believers should examine their intentions and ensure their actions are rooted in genuine faith, not mere habit, social conformity, or worldly ambition.
Related Ayahs
أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
Have you seen if he denies and turns away -
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ ٱئْذَن لِّى وَلَا تَفْتِنِّىٓ ۚ أَلَا فِى ٱلْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُوا۟ ۗ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌۢ بِٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And among them is he who says, "Permit me [to remain at home] and do not put me to trial." Unquestionably, into trial they have fallen. And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers.
وَإِذَا عَلِمَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا شَيْـًٔا ٱتَّخَذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
And when he knows anything of Our verses, he takes them in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment.
أَن تَقُولَ نَفْسٌ يَـٰحَسْرَتَىٰ عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطتُ فِى جَنۢبِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِن كُنتُ لَمِنَ ٱلسَّـٰخِرِينَ
Lest a soul should say, "Oh, [how great is] my regret over what I neglected in regard to Allāh and that I was among the mockers."