Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, those who disbelieved, and died while they were disbelievers, the (whole) earth full of gold will not be accepted from anyone of them even if they offered it as a ransom. For them is a painful torment and they will have no helpers.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّinnaIndeed
ٱلَّذِينَalladhīnathose who
كَفَرُوا۟kafarūdisbelieve[d]
وَمَاتُوا۟wamātūand died
وَهُمْwahumwhile they
كُفَّارٌۭkuffārun(are) disbelievers
فَلَنfalanthen never
يُقْبَلَyuq'balawill be accepted
مِنْminfrom
أَحَدِهِمaḥadihimany one of them
مِّلْءُmil'ufull
ٱلْأَرْضِl-arḍiearth
ذَهَبًۭاdhahaban(of) gold
وَلَوِwalawi[and] (even) if
ٱفْتَدَىٰif'tadāhe offered as ransom
بِهِۦٓ ۗbihiit
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَulāikaThose
لَهُمْlahumfor them
عَذَابٌʿadhābun(is) a punishment
أَلِيمٌۭalīmunpainful
وَمَاwamāand not
لَهُمlahum(will be) for them
مِّنminany
نَّـٰصِرِينَnāṣirīnahelpers
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 91) By this are meant those people who adopt the way of disbelief and die in a state of disbelief. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah Almighty will ask the inhabitant of Hell who is receiving the lightest punishment: 'If everything in the world were yours, would you give it as ransom (to save your life)?' He will say: 'Yes!' Allah Almighty will say: 'I had asked you for something much easier than this when you were in the loins of Adam, that you should not commit shirk, and I would not admit you to Hell, but you refused and continued to commit shirk.'" [مسلم، صفات المنافقین، باب طلب الکافر الفداء … : ۲۸۰۵، عن أنس رضی اللہ عنہ ]
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
1. 19 In the hadith it is mentioned that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah Almighty will say to a person of Hell, "If you had all the possessions of the world, would you like to give them in exchange for this punishment of the Fire?" He will say, "Yes." Allah Almighty will say, "I demanded from you something much easier than this in the world, that you do not associate partners with Me, but you did not refrain from shirk." (Musnad Ahmad, and likewise narrated by Bukhari and Muslim. Ibn Kathir) From this it is understood that for the disbeliever, the punishment of Hell is eternal. Even if he did some good deeds in the world, due to disbelief, those will also be wasted, as in the hadith it is mentioned that regarding Abdullah bin Jud'an, it was asked that he was hospitable, cared for the poor, and freed slaves—will these deeds benefit him? The Prophet ﷺ said, "No," because he never once asked his Lord for forgiveness for his sins. (Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith) Similarly, if a person there wants to save himself from the punishment of Hell by giving gold equal to the earth as ransom, it will not be possible. Firstly, what will anyone have there? And even if, hypothetically, he has all the treasures of the world and wants to be freed from punishment by giving them, even then it will not happen, because that compensation or ransom will not be accepted from him. As stated in another place (وَّلَايُقْبَلُمِنْهَاعَدْلٌوَّلَاتَنْفَعُهَاشَفَاعَةٌ) 2:123 no compensation will be accepted from him, nor will any intercession benefit him. (La bay'un fihi wa la khullal) On that day, there will be no buying and selling, nor will any friendship avail.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
91. Indeed, those who disbelieve and die as disbelievers, even if they were to offer the earth full of gold to ransom themselves [80], it would never be accepted from them. For them is a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.
[80] Ransom of Wealth in the Hereafter:
In the Hereafter, only those deeds will be of benefit which a person has sent ahead for himself. Other than deeds, neither wealth and riches will be of any use there, nor kinship, nor intercession. The scenario presented in the mentioned verse is hypothetical, that is, if a disbeliever were to possess heaps upon heaps of gold, even if he had gold enough to fill the earth, his desire would be to give it all away to save himself from the torment of Hell. But there, this will be impossible. Thus, it is mentioned in a sahih hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah Almighty will say to the dweller of Hell who is receiving the least punishment, "If you had all that is in the world, would you give it as ransom for yourself?" He will say, "Yes." Allah Almighty will say, "When you were in human form, I asked you for something easier than this (that you remain firm on Tawheed) and I said that then I would not admit you into Hell, but you persisted in shirk." [مسلم، کتاب صفۃ القیامۃ باب طلب الکافر الفداء مل الارض ذھبا]
