إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِم مِّلْءُ ٱلْأَرْضِ ذَهَبًا وَلَوِ ٱفْتَدَىٰ بِهِۦٓ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ 91
Translations
Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - never would the [whole] capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would [seek to] ransom himself with it. For those there will be a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina kafaroo wa maatoo wa hum kuffar falan yuqbala min ahadihim milaa al-ardi dhahaban wa law iftada bihi. Ulaika lahum adhab aleem wa ma lahum min nasirin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that those who die in a state of disbelief will have no acceptance of their deeds or ransom on the Day of Judgment, even if they could offer the entire earth filled with gold as redemption. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse closes all doors of hope for the disbeliever after death, making clear that repentance is only accepted in this life before the moment of death arrives.
Revelation Context
Surah Ali 'Imran (Chapter 3) is Medinan and addresses both the People of the Book and the broader Muslim community. This particular ayah appears in a section discussing the finality of one's state at death and the reality of the Hereafter, reinforcing the urgency of accepting faith during one's lifetime. It follows verses about the consequences of rejecting Allah's signs.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'When the son of Adam dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: a continuing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him' (Sahih Muslim 1631). Additionally, the hadith about the barrier (barzakh) between this life and the next emphasizes that no return or change of state occurs after death (Sahih Bukhari 1377).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no amount of worldly wealth or status can save one from divine punishment if one dies as a disbeliever, emphasizing the paramount importance of faith and sincere repentance while still alive. For believers, it serves as a reminder of the preciousness of faith and the critical nature of guiding others to Islam before death overtakes them.
Related Ayahs
وَمُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَىَّ مِنَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَلِأُحِلَّ لَكُم بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى حُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَجِئْتُكُم بِـَٔايَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ
And [I have come] confirming what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allāh and obey me.
وَلَئِن قُتِلْتُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ مُتُّمْ لَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
And if you are killed in the cause of Allāh or die - then forgiveness from Allāh and mercy are better than whatever they accumulate [in this world].
ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۚ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلَـٰمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ
That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muḥammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when they disputed.
لَن تَنَالُوا۟ ٱلْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ
Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allāh] from that which you love. And whatever you spend - indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it.