Surah Ya-Sin 36:54
سُورَةُ يسٓ · Meccan · Verse 54 of 83
فَٱلْيَوْمَ لَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌۭ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Translation
‘Today, no soul will be wronged in the least: you will only be repaid for your deeds.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
'So today no soul will be wronged in the least, and you will be recompensed only for what you used to do.' al-Saadi and Ibn Ashur note the perfect justice: not an atom of injustice, and every person receives exactly their own deeds, no more, no less, nothing arbitrary. Ask yourself: so much of my anxiety is about unfairness, being misjudged, uncredited, wronged. This verse promises a day when the accounting is flawless: I will get precisely what I actually did, weighed without error. That is terrifying and consoling at once. If the final verdict is exactly my own record returned to me, am I building a record I would be at peace to receive back, undiluted, unspun, and entirely mine?
Grounded in classical tafsir: al-Saadi, Ibn Ashur, al-Biqa'i.
Wording
This verse opens with a powerful declaration about the Day of Judgment, following the description of the trumpet blast that gathers all people before Allah. It is Allah speaking directly, establishing the absolute justice of that momentous day for everyone present, though with a particular warning directed at those who disbelieved.
The Day of Accountability
The opening particle *fa* (فَ), meaning "so" or "then," is significant here. As al-Razi points out, it indicates a direct consequence. Since all people are "muhdarun" (مُحْضَرُونَ), meaning "gathered" or "brought forth" for judgment, the natural and inevitable outcome is that justice will be served. Ibn Ashur adds that this *fa* can also clarify an unstated thought: now that the reality of resurrection is undeniable, the time for reckoning has come. The word *al-yawm* (اليَوْمَ), "the Day," made definite by the Arabic *al-* (الـ), refers specifically to this momentous Day of Judgment. It highlights that this is *the* day where ultimate justice will prevail.
Unwavering Fairness
The verse declares, "لا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْـًۭٔا" (no soul will be wronged in the slightest thing). The words *nafs* (نَفْسٌ) meaning "soul," and *shay'an* (شَيْـًۭٔا) meaning "a thing," are both indefinite nouns used in a negative context. Ibn Ashur explains that this grammatical structure emphasizes absolute generality: no soul, not a single one, will experience any injustice whatsoever, not even the tiniest amount. The term *shay'an* here also functions to intensely emphasize the total absence of any form of wronging, as if saying "not a thing of injustice." Al-Razi further clarifies that this promise of "no soul will be wronged" offers reassurance to the believers, affirming that Allah's justice is universal and applies to all. Ibn Ashur notes that mentioning the absence of wrongdoing implies that the coming recompense might appear severe, yet it is perfectly balanced and fair.
Deeds as Recompense
Following this, the verse states, "وَلَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ" (and you will not be recompensed except for what you used to do). Here, al-Razi highlights that the "you" in *tujzawna* (تُجْزَوْنَ) specifically addresses the disbelievers, indicating that this part of the verse aims to instill despair in the criminals. The phrase *ma kuntum ta'maloona* (مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ) refers to "what you used to do." Al-Razi offers a profound insight into the word *ma* (ما) here. It could mean that the recompense is *exactly* the deed itself, a powerful rhetorical way to emphasize that there will be no increase or decrease, leaving no room for hope of leniency. Alternatively, it means the recompense will be of the *same type* as the deed, good for good, and evil for evil. There's no escaping the direct consequences of one's actions; the recompense is a precise reflection of what was done in worldly life.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
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