سُوْرَةُ صٓ

Surah Saad (38) — Ayah 28

The letter Saad · Meccan · Juz 23 · Page 455

أَمْ نَجْعَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ كَٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ نَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ كَٱلْفُجَّارِ ﴿28﴾
Shall We treat those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds as Mufsidûn (those who associate partners in worship with Allâh and commit crimes) on earth? Or shall We treat the Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2:2) as the Fujjâr (criminals, disbelievers, the wicked)?
أَمْ am Or
نَجْعَلُ najʿalu should We treat
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna those who
ءَامَنُوا۟ āmanū believe
وَعَمِلُوا۟ waʿamilū and do
ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ l-ṣāliḥāti righteous deeds
كَٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ kal-muf'sidīna like those who spread corruption
فِى in
ٱلْأَرْضِ l-arḍi the earth
أَمْ am Or
نَجْعَلُ najʿalu should We treat
ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ l-mutaqīna the pious
كَٱلْفُجَّارِ kal-fujāri like the wicked

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 28){ اَمْ نَجْعَلُ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ كَالْمُفْسِدِيْنَ … :} This is the second proof of the reality of the Day of Reckoning: if there were no Day of Reckoning, it would mean that those who have faith and do righteous deeds and those who spread corruption in the land are equal in Our sight; thus, those who fear Us and those who stubbornly disobey are both the same. Just think for yourself, is this what justice and wisdom demand, and would We allow this to happen? In this world, due to the test and the short duration, it is not fully possible to give reward and punishment to the good and the bad; all of this will happen on the Day of Reckoning. See also the similar verse in Surah Al-Jathiyah, Ayah (21).

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.

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

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.

28. Shall We treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like those who spread corruption on earth? Or shall We make the righteous and the wicked [36] equal?

[36]
The Second Proof: The Demand of Justice

That is, this verse is a rational argument for the necessity of rewarding every human being for his good and bad deeds, or for the establishment of the Hereafter. The question is: O you who deny the Day of Resurrection! Do you think it is correct that a righteous person should not receive any compensation or reward for his goodness, nor should an evildoer be punished for his evil deeds? If, in this world, a person spends his entire life usurping the rights of others and oppressing them, and then dies, should he not be punished? Or if a person, despite suffering himself, continues to do good and show compassion to others, and spends his whole life in hardship and then dies, should he not be rewarded for his good deeds, and in the end, both become equal? It is obvious that if there is no establishment of the Hereafter and no reckoning of human deeds, then, firstly, it negates Allah’s wisdom and justice, and secondly, the entire system of this universe becomes a useless and blind system.