لِيَجْزِىَ ٱللَّهُ كُلَّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ 51
Translations
So that Allāh will recompense every soul for what it earned. Indeed, Allāh is swift in account.
Transliteration
Liyajziya Allahu kulla nafsin ma kasabat. Inna Allaha sari'u al-hisab.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah will reward or punish each soul according to what it has earned through its deeds, emphasizing individual accountability on the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse establishes the principle of personal responsibility—no one bears the burden of another's actions. The phrase 'swift in reckoning' (sari'u al-hisab) underscores Allah's complete knowledge and swift justice, as He will assess all deeds without delay or error.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ibrahim, a Meccan surah that addresses the themes of Divine guidance, accountability, and the resurrection. Within the broader context of verses 51-52, it forms part of a passage describing the Day of Judgment where each soul will see its deeds presented before it, reinforcing the Quranic theme of personal responsibility for one's actions in the afterlife.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Each of you is a shepherd and each is responsible for his flock' (Sahih Bukhari 893), emphasizing individual accountability. Also relevant is the hadith: 'On the Day of Resurrection, no soul will find any good it had done presented before it except as it had done it' (Sunan Ibn Majah 4264), which directly relates to the concept of earning and recompense.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that we are individually accountable for our choices and actions, and that no excuse or intercession can alter the justice of Allah's reckoning. In modern life, this teaches us to be conscious of our intentions and deeds, knowing that Allah's justice is swift and perfect, encouraging moral consciousness and righteous conduct.