Tafseer of The Star · An-Najm · 53:39
And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
وَأَنْ لَيْسَ لِلإنْسَانِ إِلا مَا سَعَى ("and that man shall have nothing but that for which he strives") — He, exalted is His praise, says: has he not been informed that no doer is rewarded except for his own deed, whether it be good or evil?
As Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His word وَأَنْ لَيْسَ لِلإنْسَانِ إِلا مَا سَعَى ("and that man shall have nothing but that for which he strives"), and he recited إِنَّ سَعْيَكُمْ لَشَتَّى ("indeed, your striving is diverse"); he said: your deeds.
It is reported from Ibn ʿAbbās that he said: this verse is abrogated (mansūkh).
ʿAlī related to me, saying: Abū Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word وَأَنْ لَيْسَ لِلإنْسَانِ إِلا مَا سَعَى ("and that man shall have nothing but that for which he strives"), he said: then Allah revealed after this وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُمْ بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ ("And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith — We shall join their descendants with them"), and thus He caused the sons to enter Paradise through the righteousness of the fathers.
