Surah Ash-Shu'ara — Verse 113

Word Meanings:

• Hisābuhum (حسابهم): Their reckoning, account, or judgment for their deeds.
• Illā (إلا): Except, nothing but.
• Alā Rabbī (على ربي): Upon my Lord — meaning it rests solely with Allah.
• Law Tash'urūn (لو تشعرون): If you only perceived, realized, or had true awareness.

Explanation of the Verse:

This verse comes as a response from Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) to his people, who had objected to him associating with the poor and the weak among the believers. They arrogantly asked him to drive those humble believers away, questioning their worth. In reply, Nuh declares: "Their account is not upon me — I am not their judge, nor am I responsible for weighing their deeds or peering into their hearts. That is entirely the affair of my Lord alone, who knows their innermost secrets and their outward actions alike. If only you possessed true perception, you would realize that I have no authority over their reckoning, and that my duty is merely to convey the message of truth, not to assess people's worth by their worldly status."

The Prophet Nuh is teaching us a profound lesson: human beings are not qualified to judge the faith or worth of others based on appearances, wealth, or social standing. Only Allah, who is fully aware of every hidden intention and every open deed, has the right to call people to account. The phrase "if only you perceived" is a gentle yet piercing admonition — it invites the disbelievers to awaken their minds and hearts to this simple truth, which their arrogance had blinded them from seeing.

A Call to Reflection:

This noble verse carries a timeless message for every believer: never look down upon your fellow Muslims, no matter how humble their worldly circumstances may appear. The poorest believer, in the sight of Allah, may be far more beloved than the richest disbeliever. How often do we judge others by their outward appearance, their clothes, their jobs, or their social circles — while Allah looks at their hearts and their sincerity?

Let this verse be a mirror for our own souls. When we find ourselves criticizing others or questioning their worth, let us remember that their account is with Allah alone, and ours is with Him as well. What a beautiful religion Islam is, that teaches us to purify our hearts from arrogance and to see every human being as a creature of Allah, worthy of respect and kindness, with their ultimate fate left to the All-Knowing, All-Just Lord. Indeed, if we truly perceived this, we would guard our tongues, soften our hearts, and strive to be among those whom Allah loves — the humble, the merciful, and the just.