Ghafir (The Forgiver)

40. “Whosoever does an evil deed will not be requited except the like thereof and whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female, and is a true believer, will enter Paradise, where they will be provided therein without limit.

Faith and deeds are jointly effective and one of them may not lead to deliverance.

The question is not merely the transience of this world and the everlastingness of the world to come, but the significant question is reckoning deeds, since:

“Whosoever does an evil deed will not be requited except the like thereof but whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female and is a true believer, will enter Paradise and will be provided therein without limit.”

Secondly, in his well measured words, he refers to Divine Justice on the one hand through which sinners will be recompensed the like of their sins and on the other hand, he makes a reference to Boundless Divine Bounties to be bestowed upon believers without limit.

Such Bounties are without human imagination. Thirdly, the requisite of the accompaniment of faith and righteous deed is mention. Fourthly, mention is made of the equality of females and males before God Almighty and human values.

It is noteworthy that he tersely expresses the fact that despite the insignificance and transience of the merchandise of this world, it may lead to gaining boundless rewards. Is there any transaction more profitable than this?

The phrase:

“the like thereof” (mithlaha)

indicates that the recompenses in the Hereafter closely resemble the deeds committed in this world.

The phrase:

“without limits”

may demonstrate that reckoning the Bounties if for those who enjoy a few of them and fear that failing to keep a record of the same would entail shortage, but the Lord requires no reckoning since His Bounties are limitless and bestowing bounties may not decrease them.

A question is raised here as to the consistency of the Verse in question with:

“Whoever brings a good deed shall have ten times the like thereof to his credit”1 .

In providing a reply to the question, it is worthy of note to keep in mind that

“ten times”

is the least Divine Reward and in case of expending in the Cause of Allah, it will be increased to seven hundred times and more and finally it will be increased to limitless reckoning whose extend is solely known by God Almighty.