Surah Az-Zalzala (99) — Ayah 7

(Ayah 8,7) ➊ {فَمَنْ يَّعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ …:’’ يَرَهٗ ‘‘} is originally {’’يَرَاهُ‘‘}, which is the imperfect verb of {’’ رَاٰي يَرٰي رُؤْيَةً‘‘}, and {’’ فَمَنْ يَّعْمَلْ ‘‘} is jussive because it is the result of a conditional, so the alif has been omitted. {’’ ذَرَّةٍ ‘‘} is the smallest particle of scattered dust that appears shining in the sunlight through a skylight. A small ant is also called {’’ذَرَّةٌ‘‘}. Whether disbeliever or Muslim, if there is even an atom’s weight of good, he will see it, and if there is even an atom’s weight of evil, he will see it; nothing will be missing from the record of deeds, as He said: «وَ وَجَدُوْا مَا عَمِلُوْا حَاضِرًا وَ لَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ اَحَدًا» [ الکہف : ۴۹ ] “And they will find whatever they did present [before them], and your Lord does not wrong anyone.” However, the recompense for deeds will be according to the principles set by Allah Almighty. Thus, the deeds of the disbelievers will be rendered void, and they will be recompensed in this world instead of the Hereafter. (See Al-A‘raf: 147; Al-Ahqaf: 20) And no intercession will benefit them. See Surah Al-Muddathir (48).
In the light of the Qur’an and authentic hadiths, the meaning of their deeds being rendered void and intercession not benefiting them is that they will not be able to leave Hell; Paradise is forbidden for them. However, due to some deeds or some intercession, the punishment may be lessened, as Abu Talib will only be made to wear shoes of fire, and the disbelievers will be in different levels of Hell according to their deeds. The hypocrites will be in the lowest part of the Fire. (See An-Nisa: 145) The people of faith will be punished for their evil deeds only when these conditions are present: (1) The sins are major. (See An-Nisa: 31) (2) They die without repenting from them. (3) Their good deeds are not heavier on the scale. (4) No intercession is accepted for them. (5) They have no deed that already entitles them to forgiveness, such as the people of Badr. (6) Allah Almighty has not forgiven those sins, because the sinful believer is at Allah’s will; if He wills, He punishes him, and if He wills, He forgives him.

➋ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) declared this verse to be comprehensive and unparalleled. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding horses: [ اَلْخَيْلُ لِثَلَاثَةٍ : لِرَجُلٍ أَجْرٌ وَ لِرَجُلٍ سِتْرٌ وَ عَلٰی رَجُلٍ وِزْرٌ ] “Horses are for three kinds of people: for one man they are a source of reward, for another they are a means of covering, and for another they are a burden.” Upon this, he was asked about donkeys, so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيَّ فِيْهَا إِلَّا هٰذِهِ الْآيَةَ الْفَاذَّةَ الْجَامِعَةَ: « فَمَنْ يَّعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَّرَ (7) وَ مَنْ يَّعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَّرَهٗ » ] [ بخاري، التفسیر، باب قولہ : «فمن یعمل مثقال ذرۃ خیرا یرہ » : ۴۹۶۲] “Nothing has been revealed to me regarding them except this unique and comprehensive verse: ‘So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.’”

7. 1. So he will be pleased with it.

The tafsir of this ayah is included with the following verse(s).