وَمَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ 39
Translations
And you will not be recompensed except for what you used to do -
Transliteration
Wa mā tujzawna illā mā kuntum ta'malūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms the divine principle of justice: humanity will be rewarded or punished only according to their deeds. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this as a fundamental divine law (Sunnah) establishing that no soul will be wronged and each will receive exactly what it earned. The ayah appears in the context of the Day of Judgment, where the disbelievers will recognize that their punishment is the direct consequence of their own actions.
Revelation Context
Surah As-Saffat is a Meccan chapter focusing on themes of monotheism, resurrection, and the Day of Judgment. This ayah appears in a passage (37:33-39) describing the conversation between inhabitants of Paradise and the people of Hell, emphasizing the fairness of divine judgment and that no injustice occurs on the Day of Resurrection.
Related Hadiths
Hadith: 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari 13) - related thematically to accountability for one's actions. Also relevant: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895) - emphasizing that deeds determine one's station.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah's justice is absolute and precise—we cannot blame external circumstances or others for our ultimate spiritual outcome, as we are responsible for our own choices and actions. It should inspire conscious effort toward righteous deeds, knowing that every action has eternal significance and consequence.