يَـٰبُنَىَّ إِنَّهَآ إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُن فِى صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ أَوْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ 16
Translations
[And Luqmān said], "O my son, indeed if it [i.e., a wrong] should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allāh will bring it forth. Indeed, Allāh is Subtle and Aware.
Transliteration
Ya bunayya innaha in taku mithqala habbatin min khardal fatakun fi sakhrah aw fi as-samawati aw fi al-ardi ya'ti biha Allah. Inna Allah latifun khabir.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Luqman advises his son that even if a deed be as small as a mustard seed—hidden in a rock, in the heavens, or in the earth—Allah will bring it forth and hold one accountable for it. This ayah emphasizes Allah's perfect knowledge and justice, teaching that no action escapes divine awareness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi highlight that this demonstrates Allah's Latif (Subtle/Delicate) nature in perceiving all things and His Khabir (All-Knowing) attribute in preserving knowledge of every deed.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Luqman's exhortations to his son, occurring in the Meccan surah that bears his name. The passage addresses fundamental moral principles during the early Islamic period, emphasizing accountability and divine omniscience as core deterrents against wrongdoing and encouragements toward righteousness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in Sahih Muslim: 'Fear Allah wherever you are. Follow an evil deed with a good one and it will wipe it out, and behave towards people with good character.' This complements the ayah's message of accountability. Additionally, in Tirmidhi, the Prophet emphasized: 'Guard yourself against the Fire, even if with half a date,' illustrating the significance of even the smallest actions.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah cultivates God-consciousness (taqwa) by reminding believers that no action—however trivial it may seem—escapes Allah's knowledge and judgment. It should inspire continuous moral vigilance and righteous conduct, knowing that both good and evil deeds carry eternal significance.