وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ 14
Translations
And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him.
Transliteration
wa-man fi al-ardi jami'an thumma yunjihi
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of a passage describing the Day of Judgment where a person would wish to ransom themselves from punishment by offering all the wealth on earth. The ayah emphasizes that even if someone possessed everything on earth, they could not use it to save themselves from Allah's punishment on that day. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain this as highlighting the futility of material wealth in the afterlife and the absolute justice of Allah's reckoning, where no worldly possession or relationship can intercede for the sinner.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ma'arij is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when the pagans of Mecca denied the resurrection and the Day of Judgment. This ayah is part of the broader context (verses 10-18) describing the desperation of sinners on the Day of Judgment, reinforcing the certainty of the afterlife and divine accountability that the Meccans rejected.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need, yet still gives' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari emphasizes that 'wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (18:46), reflecting the theme that material possessions hold no value on the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that no amount of worldly wealth or possessions can protect them from accountability before Allah, encouraging a focus on righteous deeds and spiritual preparation rather than material accumulation. It serves as a powerful reminder to prioritize the eternal over the temporal and to recognize that true security lies only in obedience to Allah.