مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا نُوَفِّ إِلَيْهِمْ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ فِيهَا وَهُمْ فِيهَا لَا يُبْخَسُونَ 15
Translations
Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornments - We fully repay them for their deeds therein, and they therein will not be deprived.
Transliteration
Man kāna yurīdu al-ḥayāta ad-dunyā wa zīnatahā nuwaffī ilayhim aʿmālahum fīhā wa hum fīhā lā yubkhasonūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that whoever seeks only the worldly life and its adornments will have their deeds fulfilled in this world without any diminishment, but they will receive no reward in the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this is a warning against making the dunya the ultimate goal, as such people's deeds—though materially rewarded—are void of spiritual merit and eternal consequence. The ayah contrasts with the next verse (11:16) which describes those who work for the Hereafter and receive both worldly blessings and eternal reward.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Hud, a Meccan chapter revealed during a period when the Quraysh were focused on worldly pursuits and rejected the message of the Hereafter. The context addresses the priorities of those who deny resurrection and the Day of Judgment, emphasizing that preoccupation with dunya alone leads to spiritual loss despite material gain.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The dunya is cursed, and all that is in it is cursed, except for the remembrance of Allah and what helps toward it' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever makes the dunya his goal, Allah will scatter his affairs' (Sunan Ibn Majah) reflects the theme of this ayah's warning.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that pursuing worldly success without regard for the Hereafter is spiritually hollow—one may gain temporary material satisfaction but loses eternal reward. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder to examine their intentions: are they working for genuine purpose beyond material accumulation, and do their actions serve both worldly well-being and spiritual growth?
Related Ayahs
وَٱصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And be patient, for indeed, Allāh does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.
وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ طَرَفَىِ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْحَسَنَـٰتِ يُذْهِبْنَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّٰكِرِينَ
And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ شَقُوا۟ فَفِى ٱلنَّارِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَشَهِيقٌ
As for those who were [destined to be] wretched, they will be in the Fire. For them therein is [violent] exhaling and inhaling.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا۟ مُعْجِزِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۘ يُضَـٰعَفُ لَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۚ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يُبْصِرُونَ
Those were not causing failure [to Allāh] on earth, nor did they have besides Allāh any protectors. For them the punishment will be multiplied. They were not able to hear, nor did they see.