At many places in Al Qur'an man has been cautioned about his responsibilities and actions. In this post today, we share one such verse which is one of the Qur'an's most profound principles of personal responsibility, justice, and accountability. It comes in a passage (53:36–42) that summarizes the enduring teachings revealed to the Prophets Ibrāhīm (Abraham) and Mūsā (Moses), showing that these principles are universal and not unique to Islam. In fact this verse is oft repeated in sermons and lectures to continuously remind man of his personal responsibilities for which he will held accountable for on the Day of Judgement.
The Verse Surah An-Najm (53:39)
وَأَنْ لَيْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ
"And that man will have nothing except what he strives for."
Context of the Verse
The verse 39 is part of a passage comprising verses 36 to 42 given herein under:
- 53:36–37: These truths were already taught in the scriptures of Moses and Abraham.
- 53:38: "No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another."
- 53:39: "Man will have nothing except what he strives for."
- 53:40: His striving will be shown to him.
- 53:41: He will then receive its full recompense.
- 53:42: To Allah is the final destination.
These verses form a complete chain: Personal responsibility - Personal effort - Divine judgment - Final reward. Thus, verse 39 explains why no one bears another's burden (53:38): every individual earns the consequences of their own striving.
Meaning of "Striving" (Sa'y)
The Arabic word سَعَى (saʿā) means to to strive, exert effort, work seriously, and pursue something with determination. It is broader than physical work. It includes:
- acts of worship,
- seeking knowledge,
- earning an honest livelihood,
- serving others,
- repentance,
- and even striving against one's own desires.
The verse emphasizes effort, while the outcome remains in Allah's hands.
Classical Scholars' Explanation
1. Ibn Kathīr
Ibn Kathīr explains that no one acquires the reward of another's deeds merely by wishing for it. Every person is rewarded according to what they sincerely strive for.
He also clarifies that this verse establishes a general rule of justice. Other texts show that Allah, out of His mercy, may allow a believer to benefit from certain deeds performed by others—such as the prayers of righteous descendants or charity done on behalf of the deceased—because Allah Himself has legislated those means. These are exceptions granted by Allah's grace, not contradictions of the principle.
2. Al-Ṭabarī
Al-Ṭabarī explains that every person possesses only what they have earned through their own actions. Reward and punishment are tied to one's own effort, demonstrating Allah's perfect justice.
3. Al-Qurṭubī
Al-Qurṭubī writes that this verse encourages diligence and rejects dependence on ancestry, status, or the righteousness of others. Neither noble lineage nor association with pious people benefits a person without faith and righteous deeds.
4. Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi
From this verse three cardinal principles are derived:
- That every person is himself responsible for what he does;
- that the responsibility of one man's act cannot be transferred to another unless he has a share in the commission of the act; and
- that even if a person wishes he cannot take on himself the responsibility of another man's act, nor can the actual culprit be Iet off on the ground that another person is willing to suffer the punishment on his behalf.
In this connection, it should be understood well that fulfillment of an obligation on behalf of another can be beneficial only to those people who have themselves been keen and desirous of fulfilling their obligations and might have been unable to do so being rendered helpless by circumstances. But a person who deliberately shirked going for Hajj although he had the necessary means for it and had no feeling whatever of this obligation in his heart either, cannot be benefited even if several Hajj be performed on his behalf afterwards. This would be analogous to the case of a person who deliberately avoided paying his debts and had no intention to pay them till the last. Afterwards even if every penny is paid off on his behalf, he would remain a debtor in the sight of Allah. The payment of the debts by another can relieve only such a person who in his lifetime was desirous of paying off his debts but was unable to do so due to straitened circumstances.
The explanation of this verse by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi and lengthy. Here only a section of it has been reproduced. Those wanting to reflect deeply on this verse may consult the exegesis of Surah 53, link at [1] below.
Correlation with Other Qur'anic Verses
As mentioned above, at many palaces the theme of personal responsibility is repeated. Herein under some verses that can be correlated with verse 53:39
1. Surah An-Najm (53:38)
- "No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another."
- Verse 38 establishes personal accountability.
- Verse 39 explains that each person's reward corresponds to their own striving.
2. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286)
- "For it is what it has earned, and against it is what it has earned."
- Every soul receives the consequences of its own deeds.
3. Surah Al-Isrā' (17:15)
- "Whoever is guided is only guided for his own benefit, and whoever goes astray only goes astray against himself. No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another."
- This echoes the same principle of individual accountability.
4. Surah Az-Zalzalah (99:7–8)
- "Whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it."
- Even the smallest sincere effort is known to Allah.
5. Surah Āl ʿImrān (3:195)
- "Indeed, I do not allow the work of any worker among you to be lost, whether male or female."
- Allah values sincere effort regardless of who performs it.
6. Surah At-Tawbah (9:105)
- "Work, for Allah will see your deeds, and His Messenger and the believers."
- Belief is accompanied by action and striving.
Correlation with Authentic Hadith
Since Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the receiver of all revelation in Al Qur'an, who else other than him can explain the meaning of the Quranic verses. Here are some hadiths that are correlated with above quoted verse:
1. Intentions determine reward
- The Prophet ﷺ said: "Actions are judged by intentions, and every person shall have only what he intended." — Sahih al-Bukhari 1; Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
- (Please read detailed explanation of this hadith from our earlier post: Hadith of the Day: Actions are dependent upon Intentions
- This complements 53:39 beautifully. Effort must be sincere, not merely outward.
2. Allah rewards consistent effort
- The Prophet ﷺ said: "The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are done consistently, even if they are small." — Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
- Allah values perseverance more than occasional bursts of activity.
3. Human effort ends at death—except for lasting benefits
- The Prophet ﷺ said: "When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity (ṣadaqah jāriyah), beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him." — Sahih Muslim
- This hadith does not contradict 53:39. These continuing rewards arise from the person's own striving during life: they established the charity, taught the knowledge, or raised the righteous child.
4. Strive for what benefits you
- The Prophet ﷺ said: "Strive for that which benefits you, seek Allah's help, and do not give up." — Sahih Muslim
- This is a practical application of the Qur'anic command to strive.
Does this verse Contradict Intercession or Praying for Others?
No. Rather the verse establishes the general rule: Every person is accountable for their own striving.
Intercession (shafāʿah), forgiveness, and benefiting from others' prayers occur only by Allah's permission and mercy. They do not transfer moral responsibility or erase the need for one's own faith and effort. The Qur'an repeatedly states that no one can intercede except with Allah's permission (e.g., 2:255, 20:109).
How Can We Benefit from This Verse Today?
This verse is as true today as it was when it was revealed. In fact all verses of Al Qur'an stand validated today even after a lapse of more than 1450 years after revelation of Al Qur'an. Let us correlate this verse for its applicability today:
1. Stop relying on status or lineage
Being born into a Muslim family, having righteous parents, or belonging to a respected community does not replace personal faith and righteous deeds.
2. Value effort, not only results
The verse praises striving, not guaranteed worldly success. A sincere effort made for Allah is never wasted, even if the outcome differs from our hopes.
3. Avoid excuses
It is easy to blame circumstances, upbringing, or society. This verse reminds us that each person is responsible for responding to the opportunities Allah has given them.
4. Invest in lasting deeds
Acts such as teaching beneficial knowledge, supporting charitable causes, raising righteous children, and cultivating good character continue to bear fruit beyond one's lifetime.
5. Keep working with hope
Even small, consistent acts—daily prayer, Qur'an recitation, honest work, helping others—are part of the striving that Allah sees and rewards.
A Reflective Summary
Surah An-Najm 53:39 teaches a timeless principle of divine justice: every human being is responsible for the effort they make in seeking Allah's pleasure, and no one can rely on another person's righteousness in place of their own. Coming immediately after the declaration that no soul bears another's burden (53:38), it affirms that each person's striving will be displayed, judged, and rewarded with perfect fairness (53:40–42). At the same time, the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah teach that Allah's mercy can extend the benefit of a believer's own enduring efforts—such as ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, and righteous offspring.
The verse therefore inspires both humility and hope: our success is not measured merely by visible achievements, but by sincere, persistent striving for the sake of Allah, trusting that He never lets a righteous effort go unrewarded.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah (53) An-Najm النجم (The Star) already published.
You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages:
- Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
- Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
- Selected Verses from the Qur'an.
You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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