فَٱلْيَوْمَ لَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ 54
Translations
So today [i.e., the Day of Judgement] no soul will be wronged at all, and you will not be recompensed except for what you used to do.
Transliteration
Fa-al-yawma la tuẓlamu nafsun shay'an wa la tujzawna illa ma kuntum ta'malun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms the absolute justice of the Day of Judgment, where no soul will be wronged even by the smallest amount, and each person will receive only the exact reward or punishment corresponding to their deeds in this life. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse encapsulates the principle of perfect divine justice ('adl), distinguishing it from human systems which are prone to error and favoritism. The ayah provides reassurance to the believers that their righteous deeds will not be diminished, and a warning to the wrongdoers that they cannot escape the consequences of their actions.
Revelation Context
Surah Ya-Sin is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when the polytheists of Mecca rejected the message of resurrection and the afterlife. This particular ayah appears within the context of Surah Ya-Sin's discussion of the Day of Judgment, emphasizing that skeptics should accept the reality of accountability in the afterlife, as God's justice is perfect and infallible.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'On the Day of Judgment, the first matter to be settled between people will be regarding bloodshed' (Sahih Bukhari 6533), illustrating God's commitment to absolute justice. Additionally, 'None of you will enter Paradise unless Allah wraps him in His Mercy' (Sahih Muslim 191), which complements this ayah by showing that while justice is perfect, mercy is also essential.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah encourages believers to be conscious of their intentions and actions in this life, knowing that nothing will be hidden or unfairly judged on the Day of Resurrection. It serves as both a comfort for the righteous and a sobering reminder for those who commit injustices, motivating moral accountability in all aspects of life.