إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لِيَفْتَدُوا۟ بِهِۦ مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَا تُقُبِّلَ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 36
Translations
Indeed, those who disbelieve - if they should have all that is in the earth and the like of it with it by which to ransom themselves from the punishment of the Day of Resurrection, it will not be accepted from them, and for them is a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina kafaroo law anna lahum ma fee al-ardi jamee'an wa mithlahu ma'ahu liyaftadoo bihi min adhabi yawmi al-qiyamati ma tuqabbila minhum wa lahum adhab aleem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes the eternal punishment of the disbelievers by stating that even if they possessed all the wealth of the earth twice over, it would not be accepted as ransom to save them from the torment of the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as demonstrating the absolute justice of Allah and the irreversibility of the decision for those who rejected faith in this life. The ayah underscores that material wealth is utterly worthless in the Hereafter for those who disbelieved, and no compensation or redemption is possible once they face divine judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Ma'idah, a Medinan surah revealed in the later period of the Prophet's mission. It appears within a passage discussing the ultimate fate of disbelievers and serves to reinforce the Quranic theme of accountability and the finality of judgment on the Day of Resurrection. The broader context of Al-Ma'idah addresses matters of law, permissibility, and consequences of rejecting divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), related thematically to divine judgment based on deeds. Also relevant is the hadith: 'On the Day of Judgment, a person's deeds will be more beneficial than his wealth' (Sunan Ibn Majah), emphasizing that material possessions cannot save one from divine punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that material wealth and worldly possessions have no value in securing salvation or forgiveness on the Day of Judgment; only sincere faith and righteous deeds matter. For modern readers, it serves as a powerful incentive to prioritize spiritual development and faith over the accumulation of material goods, understanding that true security comes only through obedience to Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا فَـٰسِقِينَ
And [We destroyed] the people of Noah before; indeed, they were a people defiantly disobedient.
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَقَالُوا۟ يَـٰلَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَلَا نُكَذِّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّنَا وَنَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
If you could but see when they are made to stand before the Fire and will say, "Oh, would that we could be returned [to life on earth] and not deny the signs of our Lord and be among the believers."
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا
And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ نُهُوا۟ عَنِ ٱلنَّجْوَىٰ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَيَتَنَـٰجَوْنَ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِذَا جَآءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ ٱللَّهُ وَيَقُولُونَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلَا يُعَذِّبُنَا ٱللَّهُ بِمَا نَقُولُ ۚ حَسْبُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ يَصْلَوْنَهَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Have you not considered those who were forbidden from private conversation [i.e., ridicule and conspiracy] and then return to that which they were forbidden and converse among themselves about sin and aggression and disobedience to the Messenger? And when they come to you, they greet you with that [word] by which Allāh does not greet you and say among themselves, "Why does Allāh not punish us for what we say?" Sufficient for them is Hell, which they will [enter to] burn, and wretched is the destination.