وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَلَدَيْنَا كِتَـٰبٌ يَنطِقُ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ 62
Translations
And We charge no soul except [with that within] its capacity, and with Us is a record which speaks with truth; and they will not be wronged.
Transliteration
Wa lā nukallifu nafsam illā wus'aha, wa ladaynā kitābun yantiqu bil-haqq, wa hum lā yuzlamūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity, establishing the principle of divine justice and mercy in commanding the believers. The second part declares that Allah possesses a record that speaks the truth, and none shall be wronged—referring to the Divine Record (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz) or the recording angels who document all deeds. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize this ayah as a reassurance of Allah's justice and a refutation of any notion that the divine commands are oppressive or unjust.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Mu'minun, which is a Meccan chapter that describes the characteristics of true believers and the signs of Allah's creation. The broader context emphasizes Allah's mercy and justice toward His servants, providing comfort to the early Muslim community facing the hardships of persecution in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'When Allah intends good for a servant, He hastens his punishment in this world, and when He intends hardship for a servant, He withholds his sins until he meets Allah on the Day of Judgment.' (Jami' At-Tirmidhi 2396). Additionally, the principle is reflected in the hadith: 'The best of you are those who have the best manners and character' (Sahih Bukhari 3331), which relates to the mercy in how Allah judges based on capacity.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's laws are merciful and proportionate to human capability, encouraging trust in divine wisdom while also instilling accountability. For modern readers, it provides comfort in times of hardship—reminding us that our struggles are measured by our capacity, and that God maintains perfect knowledge and justice in all matters.