فَٱسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّى لَآ أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَـٰمِلٍ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ ۖ بَعْضُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْضٍ ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ وَأُخْرِجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ وَأُوذُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِى وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ وَقُتِلُوا۟ لَأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ثَوَابًا مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسْنُ ٱلثَّوَابِ 195
Translations
And their Lord responded to them, "Never will I allow to be lost the work of [any] worker among you, whether male or female; you are of one another. So those who emigrated or were evicted from their homes or were harmed in My cause or fought or were killed - I will surely remove from them their misdeeds, and I will surely admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow as reward from Allāh, and Allāh has with Him the best reward."
Transliteration
Fastajaaba lahum rabbuhum annee laa udee'u amala aamil min kum min dhakarin aw unthal baadukum min baad. Falladhina haajaru wa ukhrijuu min diyarihim wa oodhoo fee sabeelee wa qataluu wa qutiluu la-ukaffiranna anhum sayyiatihim wa la-adkhilannah hum jannat tajree min tahtiha al-anhaar thawaban min indi Allah. Wa Allah indahu husnu al-thawab.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah responds to the believers' supplication by assuring them that no deed—whether from male or female—will be wasted, establishing the equality of reward for all righteous believers. The ayah then provides specific reward for those who emigrated, were expelled from their homes, were harmed in Allah's cause, fought, and were killed: their sins shall be expiated and they shall enter Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse affirms women's full spiritual standing and equality in reward, while addressing the sacrifices of the Muhajirun (emigrants).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of believers' supplication (3:193-194) and follows their prayer acknowledging their transgressions. It is situated within the Medinan period when the early Muslim community was facing trials including the Battle of Uhud. The revelation addresses the concerns of believers—both men and women, both those who emigrated and faced persecution—reassuring them of divine justice and reward.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their wives' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), reflecting the Quranic emphasis on the dignity and equal standing of women. Additionally, 'Whoever emigrates in the way of Allah will find many places of refuge and abundance' (Sahih Bukhari 2526) relates to the reward for hijrah mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches modern believers that sincere effort and sacrifice for faith are never wasted regardless of gender or status, and that spiritual struggle against one's own limitations is rewarded equally by Allah. It reminds us that divine justice transcends human social hierarchies, offering hope that our struggles in faith, whether internal or external, are recognized and will be abundantly rewarded.