Quran Garden

Session 356

Chapter 3

Verse 22

The deeds of such people will come to nothing in this world and the next, and for them, there will be no helpers. (Chapter 3: Verse 22)

In the previous verse, God promised severe punishment to the people who ignore His signs, kill the prophets, and kill those who advocate for justice.  In this verse, Allah adds that the deeds of such people -and whoever follows in their footsteps- will become worthless in this world and the Hereafter.  The phrase "will come to nothing" means that their work in life will bear no fruit. 

Why do you get out of bed in the morning? It is to achieve a goal.  You usually have an objective to accomplish for the day.  You may have a plan to learn something or earn money for your family.  This is how productive people run their lives.  Any action without a goal is a crazy waste of time.  So when Allah says, "The deeds of such people will come to nothing in this world and in the next," He is clarifying to us that regardless of how good the actions of such people may appear to be, it is considered useless because there is no faith behind it.  Faith is the bedrock underneath any good deed. 

Some people criticize Islam and ask, "How come Allah does not reward the disbelievers who do wonderful services for humanity? Is it conceivable that a person who creates a medicine that saves millions of lives would not benefit on the Day of Judgment?  Could great inventors and researches who elevate humanity end up in Hellfire if they are disbelievers?" We answer that God is fair.  You earn your reward from the one you worked for.  If, for example, you work as an engineer for BMW and you design a great new safety feature, would you expect to get a salary from Mercedes Benz or Pepsi? Of course not, that is not who you worked for. Let's apply this concept to great inventors who happen to be disbelievers.  Did they come up with all these inventions while keeping God in mind? Or were humanity, money, and fame their goals?  If they worked for humanity, then they have received their fair reward.  They have university halls named after them, statues, and books commemorating their work, and some earned great wealth.  They should not expect a reward from Allah if they did not work with Him in mind. 

This also applies to Muslims.  Listen to the words of the Prophet Muhammad.  He, peace be upon him, said:

"Verily, amongst the first people to be judged on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who was martyred. He will be brought forth and shown the blessings God gave him on Earth, and he will acknowledge them.  God will ask, 'What did you do with those blessings?' The man will answer, 'I sacrificed all in your cause until I was martyred.' God will say, 'You have lied, for you only fought so people would say, 'He is a brave man,'  and so it was said.' Then, God will order him to be dragged upon his face until he is cast into Hellfire. Another man will be brought forward.  He was a scholar who studied, taught others, and recited the Quran.  He will be shown the blessings God gave him on Earth, and he will acknowledge them.  God will ask, 'What did you do with those blessings?' The man will answer, 'I learned religious knowledge, taught others, and I recited the Quran for your sake.' God will answer, 'You have lied, for you only studied so people would say, 'What a great scholar,'   and so it was said.' Then, God will order him to be dragged upon his face until he is cast into Hellfire.  Another man who was immensely wealthy will be brought forth. He will be shown his wealth, and he will recognize it.  God will ask, 'And what did you do with your wealth?' The man will answer, 'I sought every path in which You like money to be spent and gave for Your sake.' God will say, 'You have lied - you spent so people would say, 'What a generous man,' and so it was said.'  Then, God will order him to be dragged upon his face until he is cast into Hellfire."

Similarly, do not expect a reward from Allah if you did not seek Him in the first place.  God says:

If anyone desires the harvest of the life to come, We shall increase it for him; if anyone desires the harvest of this world, We shall give him a share of it, but in the Hereafter, he will have no share. (42:20)

Here is another proof that God was not on the minds of the disbelievers even when they were doing beneficial deeds.  God says:

But the actions of the disbelievers are like a mirage in the desert.  A thirsty man mistakes it for water, but when he reaches it, he finds it to be nothing at all, and he finds God there. He will pay him his account in full.  God is swift at reckoning. (24:39)

The phrase "and he finds God there" informs us that such people are surprised by the existence of God.  As if Allah says to the person of such good deeds: I was not in your mind at the time you performed the deed, so go and collect your reward from whomever you worked for. 

Thus, those who dedicate their life's work to fight God, fight His messengers, and fight people who call for justice, will see their efforts go to complete waste.  God's religion will triumph even if faced against overwhelming odds.  God says:

Those who disbelieve spend their possessions on turning people away from God; they will go on spending more, but all they will reap is regret. Then they will be overpowered and led to Hell. (8:36)