لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَهُۥ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لَٱفْتَدَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ 18
Translations
For those who have responded to their Lord is the best [reward], but those who did not respond to Him - if they had all that is in the earth entirely and the like of it with it, they would [attempt to] ransom themselves thereby. Those will have the worst account, and their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place.
Transliteration
Lilladhina istajaboo lirabbihim al-husna wa alladhina lam yastajiboo lahu law anna lahum ma fi al-ardi jameeaan wa mithlahuhu maahu lafftadaw bihi oolaaika lahum soouu al-hisab wa maawaahum jahhannam wa bissa al-mihad
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a stark contrast between two categories of people: those who responded to Allah's call and obey His commands will receive al-husna (the best reward in this life and Paradise in the next), while those who rejected Allah's guidance will face severe punishment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the ayah emphasizes that even if the rejectors possessed all the wealth on earth and its equivalent, they would ransom themselves with it on the Day of Judgment, but such ransom will not be accepted. Their fate is a bad reckoning and Hell as their abode.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Ra'd is a Medinan surah that addresses the polytheists and those who rejected the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This particular ayah comes in the context of explaining the consequences of accepting or rejecting divine guidance, reinforcing the themes of accountability and divine justice that permeate the surah.
Related Hadiths
The concept is supported by Sahih Muslim (hadith on the Day of Judgment where the disbeliever wishes to ransom himself): 'On the Day of Resurrection, when the disbeliever sees the punishment, he will wish to ransom himself with his children, wealth, and everything dear to him.' Additionally, Surah Al-Imran 3:91 contains a parallel concept about ransom being rejected.
Themes
Key Lesson
Responding positively to Allah's commands with sincere obedience brings goodness in both worlds, while rejection of faith renders all worldly possessions worthless on the Day of Judgment. For believers today, this serves as a reminder that true success lies not in accumulating wealth but in establishing a sincere relationship with the Creator through obedience and faith.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَإِن تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ أَءِذَا كُنَّا تُرَٰبًا أَءِنَّا لَفِى خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلْأَغْلَـٰلُ فِىٓ أَعْنَاقِهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
And if you are astonished, [O Muḥammad] - then astonishing is their saying, "When we are dust, will we indeed be [brought] into a new creation?" Those are the ones who have disbelieved in their Lord, and those will have shackles upon their necks, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
۞ أَفَمَن يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ٱلْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَىٰٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
Then is he who knows that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth like one who is blind? They will only be reminded who are people of understanding -
أَفَمَنْ هُوَ قَآئِمٌ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ ۗ وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ قُلْ سَمُّوهُمْ ۚ أَمْ تُنَبِّـُٔونَهُۥ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَم بِظَـٰهِرٍ مِّنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ ۗ بَلْ زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مَكْرُهُمْ وَصُدُّوا۟ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنْ هَادٍ
Then is He who is a maintainer of every soul, [knowing] what it has earned, [like any other]? But to Allāh they have attributed partners. Say, "Name them. Or do you inform Him of that which He knows not upon the earth or of what is apparent [i.e., alleged] of speech?" Rather, their [own] plan has been made attractive to those who disbelieve, and they have been averted from the way. And whomever Allāh sends astray - there will be for him no guide.
جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِهِمْ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ
Gardens of perpetual residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their forefathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying],