سُوْرَةُ فَاطِرٍ

Surah Faatir (35) — Ayah 18

The Originator · Meccan · Juz 22 · Page 436

وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ وَإِن تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمْلِهَا لَا يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَىْءٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰٓ ۗ إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ وَمَن تَزَكَّىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَتَزَكَّىٰ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿18﴾
And no bearer of burdens shall bear another’s burden; and if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin. You (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) can warn only those who fear their Lord unseen and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât). And he who purifies himself (from all kinds of sins), then he purifies only for the benefit of his ownself. And to Allâh is the (final) Return (of all).
وَلَا walā And not
تَزِرُ taziru will bear
وَازِرَةٌۭ wāziratun bearer of burdens
وِزْرَ wiz'ra burden
أُخْرَىٰ ۚ ukh'rā (of) another
وَإِن wa-in And if
تَدْعُ tadʿu calls
مُثْقَلَةٌ muth'qalatun a heavily laden
إِلَىٰ ilā to
حِمْلِهَا ḥim'lihā (carry) its load
لَا not
يُحْمَلْ yuḥ'mal will be carried
مِنْهُ min'hu of it
شَىْءٌۭ shayon anything
وَلَوْ walaw even if
كَانَ kāna he be
ذَا dhā near of kin
قُرْبَىٰٓ ۗ qur'bā near of kin
إِنَّمَا innamā Only
تُنذِرُ tundhiru you can warn
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna those who
يَخْشَوْنَ yakhshawna fear
رَبَّهُم rabbahum their Lord
بِٱلْغَيْبِ bil-ghaybi unseen
وَأَقَامُوا۟ wa-aqāmū and establish
ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ l-ṣalata the prayer
وَمَن waman And whoever
تَزَكَّىٰ tazakkā purifies himself
فَإِنَّمَا fa-innamā then only
يَتَزَكَّىٰ yatazakkā he purifies
لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۚ linafsihi for his own self
وَإِلَى wa-ilā And to
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi Allah
ٱلْمَصِيرُ l-maṣīru (is) the destination

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.

And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls another to carry some of its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he is a close relative. (O Prophet!) You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and establish prayer. And whoever purifies himself [26], he purifies only for his own soul. And to Allah is the final return.

[25]
The Literal Meaning of "Wizr" and the Law of Reward and Punishment:

The word "wizr" is especially used for the burden of sins. And its rule is that whoever commits (a sin), he alone will bear it. It is impossible that someone else bears the burden for another; rather, he will receive only as much punishment as the sin he has committed, not more than that. However, if a person introduces a sinful act which later people follow—such as introducing a polytheistic belief or act, or establishing an innovation—then, as a share, the burden of his own sins will continue to increase. And another reality is that no one will be willing to take on the burden of another. Neither will a father take on the sin of his son, nor will a son take on the sin of his father. Everyone will be concerned only for themselves. The disbelievers of Makkah used to say to some Muslims that you should return to the religion of your forefathers. If there is any matter of punishment or reward, we will bear your burden ourselves. And they said this because they did not believe in the Hereafter and its accountability at all. In this verse, their statement has also been answered: these are merely words from their mouths. When they are confronted with accountability, their senses will be set right.

[26] That is, stubborn and obstinate people will never change their attitude by your admonition and warning. Advice can only be effective for the one who believes in the Hereafter without seeing it and fears being held accountable for his deeds before Allah. Such people also establish prayers and strive to purify their conduct. And in this, the benefit is their own; they do not do any favor to Allah. And this benefit will become fully apparent when all people are presented before Allah.