إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ ۖ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَـٰعِفْهَا وَيُؤْتِ مِن لَّدُنْهُ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا 40
Translations
Indeed, Allāh does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom's weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.
Transliteration
Inna Allaha la yazlimu mithqala dharrah wa-in taku hasanatan yudaa'ifuha wa-yu'ti min ladunhu ajran aziman
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's perfect justice, declaring that He does not wrong anyone even by the weight of an atom. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that if a deed is good, Allah multiplies its reward many times over and grants additional immense reward from His own grace, while if a deed is evil, the punishment equals only the sin itself without multiplication. This establishes the principle of divine mercy in reward (which is multiplied) versus divine justice in punishment (which is not multiplied).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nisa, a Medinan surah primarily concerned with social laws and justice. It follows the discussion of orphans' rights and establishes the broader Quranic principle of divine justice and fairness, reassuring believers that no good deed goes unnoticed and no injustice is overlooked by Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever does good, even if it is the weight of an atom, shall see it' (related to Quran 99:7-8). Additionally, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families' (Tirmidhi) reflects the context of protecting the vulnerable mentioned nearby in Surah An-Nisa.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah provides profound comfort to believers: no good action is too small to be recorded and rewarded by Allah, while conversely, no one will be wronged or punished beyond their actual deeds. For modern readers, this should inspire confidence in doing good sincerely, knowing that Allah's infinite mercy ensures rewards are multiplied while maintaining perfect justice in all matters.
Related Ayahs
وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ
The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَلَدَيْنَا كِتَـٰبٌ يَنطِقُ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
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.
هَـٰذَا ۚ وَإِنَّ لِلطَّـٰغِينَ لَشَرَّ مَـَٔابٍ
This [is so]. But indeed, for the transgressors is an evil place of return -
ٱلَّذِينَ يُحْشَرُونَ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا وَأَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا
The ones who are gathered on their faces to Hell - those are the worst in position and farthest astray in [their] way.