أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا ٱلنَّارُ ۖ وَحَبِطَ مَا صَنَعُوا۟ فِيهَا وَبَـٰطِلٌ مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 16
Translations
Those are the ones for whom there is not in the Hereafter but the Fire. And lost is what they did therein, and worthless is what they used to do.
Transliteration
Ulaa'ika alladhina laysa lahum fil-aakhirati illa an-naru wa habita ma sana'oo feeha wa batilun ma kanu ya'malun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who rejected faith and devoted themselves to worldly pursuits without regard for the Hereafter—their ultimate destination is the Fire of Hell, and all their deeds in this life are rendered void and worthless. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this passage emphasizes that the deeds of disbelievers are futile because they lack the foundation of faith (Iman), which is essential for any action to be accepted by Allah. Al-Qurtubi notes that 'habitа' (destroyed/nullified) and 'batil' (false/void) both convey the complete negation of value of their worldly accomplishments.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Hud, which discusses various prophets and the fate of those who rejected their messages. The surah emphasizes the contrast between believers who work for the Hereafter and disbelievers who pursue only worldly gains, serving as a warning to the Meccan polytheists who rejected Prophet Muhammad's message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Actions are judged by intentions, and each person will have only what he intended' (Sahih Bukhari 1:1). Additionally, 'Whoever works deeds of righteousness while he is a disbeliever, they will not be accepted from him' relates to the concept expressed in this ayah (Tirmidhi 3:199).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that worldly success and accomplishments are meaningless without sincere faith in Allah and the Hereafter as the ultimate purpose of life. Believers are reminded that true success lies in aligning their actions with divine will and preparing for the eternal life to come, not merely accumulating material wealth or worldly status.
Related Ayahs
وَجَآءَهُۥ قَوْمُهُۥ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ بَنَاتِى هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ ۖ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ فِى ضَيْفِىٓ ۖ أَلَيْسَ مِنكُمْ رَجُلٌ رَّشِيدٌ
And his people came hastening to him, and before [this] they had been doing evil deeds. He said, "O my people, these are my daughters; they are purer for you. So fear Allāh and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not among you a man of reason?"
وَلَا تَرْكَنُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ
And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire, and you would not have other than Allāh any protectors; then you would not be helped.
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ فَأْتُوا۟ بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍ مِّثْلِهِۦ مُفْتَرَيَـٰتٍ وَٱدْعُوا۟ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Or do they say, "He invented it"? Say, "Then bring ten sūrahs like it that have been invented and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allāh, if you should be truthful."
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ
Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward.