وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُۥ مِن نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزَىٰٓ 19
Translations
And not [giving] for anyone who has [done him] a favor to be rewarded
Transliteration
Wa mā li-aḥadin ʿindahu min niʿmatin tujzā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah means 'And no one has with him any favor for which he will be rewarded,' referring to the wealthy person mentioned in the preceding verses who believes his wealth is permanent and that no recompense is expected for his deeds. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as emphasizing that the arrogant wealthy person acts without sincere intention toward Allah, expecting no divine reward, thus his actions lack spiritual value. The ayah serves as a rebuke to those who perform good deeds for worldly recognition rather than for Allah's pleasure and the afterlife.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Layl is a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period, addressing fundamental themes of faith, charity, and the consequences of rejecting divine guidance. This particular ayah comes within a passage contrasting the righteous person who spends in charity with the arrogant disbeliever who hoards wealth, illustrating the spiritual bankruptcy of deeds done without sincere intention toward Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), emphasizing that deeds must be accompanied by sincere intention. Additionally, 'Verily, deeds are judged by intentions, and for everyone is what he intended' (Sahih Bukhari 1) directly relates to the principle that actions without sincere intention toward Allah hold no value.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that performing good deeds or giving charity solely for worldly recognition, social status, or expectation of human praise strips these actions of their spiritual worth. True benefit comes only when our intentions are purified for Allah's sake alone, as He alone judges the heart and grants eternal reward.