Al-Baqarah · Madani · ayah 48 of 286

Al-Baqarah 2:48

وَٱتَّقُوا۟ يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِى نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا شَفَـٰعَةٌ وَلَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ

“And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul[26] at all, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be taken from it, nor will they be aided.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Guard against a Day when no one can pay another's debt, no ransom is taken, and no plea succeeds without Allah's leave.

A reflection

One at a time through the gate

At an airport, a family of five reaches the automatic passport gates. The signs are clear: one person at a time. The father cannot carry his daughter's passport through for her. Each of them steps into the booth alone. Each face is scanned, each document read, before the glass doors open.

The ayah describes a Day like that, only absolute. Lā tajzī nafsun ʿan nafsin shayʾan: no soul will avail another in the least. A major early commentator explains the verb. In Arabic, jazāʾ is settling a debt, paying what is owed. 'I paid off his debt for him' is jazaytuhu. On that Day, no one can settle anyone else's account.

The early commentators gather the Quran's other descriptions of it. A father will not avail his child, nor a child his father (31:33). Every person will have enough to concern him (80:37). One commentator calls the father and child the most powerful image of all. If even they cannot help each other, nobody can.

The ayah closes three more doors. No intercession will be accepted from such a soul. No ʿadl, ransom, will be taken: the early authorities explain it as whatever might be offered in exchange, even an earthful of gold (3:91). And no one will come to their aid.

This follows straight after the reminder that the Children of Israel had been preferred (2:47). One commentator notes the shift: first favours, then a warning. No lineage, kinship or status will carry anyone through.

This is not cruelty. It is the most serious kind of dignity. You are not anyone's attachment or anyone's debt. You stand as yourself. That is why what you do now matters so much.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.