Surah Al Imran Tafseer

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِم مِّلْءُ الارْضِ ذَهَبًا وَلَوِ افْتَدَى بِهِ

Verily, those who disbelieved, and died while they were disbelievers, the (whole) earth full of gold will not be accepted from anyone of them even if they offered it as a ransom.

Those who die while disbelievers, shall have no good deed ever accepted from them, even if they spent the earth's fill of gold in what was perceived to be an act of obedience.

The Prophet was asked about Abdullah bin Jud`an, who used to be generous to guests, helpful to the indebted and who gave food (to the poor); will all that benefit him?

The Prophet said,

لَاا إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَقُلْ يَوْمًا مِنَ الدَّهْرِ رَبِّ اغْفِر لِي خَطِييَتِي يَوْمَ الدِّين

No, for not even one day during his life did he pronounce, `O my Lord! Forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment.

Similarly, if the disbeliever gave the earth's full of gold as ransom, it will not be accepted from him.

Allah said,

وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا تَنفَعُهَا شَفَـعَةٌ

nor shall compensation be accepted from him, nor shall intercession be of use to him. (2:123)

and,

لااَّ بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خِلَـلٌ

on which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending. (14:31)

and,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُمْ مَّا فِى الاٌّرْضِ جَمِيعاً وَمِثْلَهُ مَعَهُ لِيَفْتَدُواْ بِهِ مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَـمَةِ مَا تُقُبِّلَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Verily, those who disbelieve, if they had all that is in the earth, and as much again therewith to ransom themselves thereby from the torment on the Day of Resurrection, it would never be accepted of them, and theirs would be a painful torment. (5:36)

This is why Allah said here,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِم مِّلْءُ الارْضِ ذَهَبًا وَلَوِ افْتَدَى بِهِ

Verily, those who disbelieved, and died while they were disbelievers, the (whole) earth full of gold will not be accepted from anyone of them if they offered it as a ransom.

The implication of this Ayah is that the disbeliever shall never avoid the torment of Allah, even if he spent the earth's fill of gold, or if he ransoms himself with the earth's fill of gold, - all of its mountains, hills, sand, dust, valleys, forests, land and sea.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah said,

يُوْتَى بِالرَّجُلِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ ادَمَ كَيْفَ وَجَدْتَ مَنْزِلَكَ

A man from among the people of Paradise will be brought and Allah will ask him, "O son of Adam! How did you find your dwelling?"

فَيَقُولُ أَيْ رَبِّ خَيْرَ مَنْزِلٍ

He will say, "O Lord, it is the best dwelling."

فَيَقُولُ سَلْ وَتَمَنَّ

Allah will say, "Ask and wish."

فَيَقُولُ مَا أَسْأَلُ وَلَا أَتَمَنَّى إِلاَّ أَنْ تَرُدَّنِي إِلَى الدُّنْيَا فَأُقْتَلَ فِي سَبِيلِكَ عَشْرَ مِرَارٍ

The man will say, "I only ask and wish that You send me back to the world so that I am killed ten times in Your cause,"

لِمَا يَرَى مِنْ فَضْلِ الشَّهَادَةِ

because of the honor of martyrdom he would experience.

وَيُوْتَى بِالرَّجُلِ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ ادَمَ كَيْفَ وَجَدْتَ مَنْزِلَكَ

A man from among the people of the Fire will be brought, and Allah will say to him, "O son of Adam! How do you find your dwelling?"

فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ شَرَّ مَنْزِلٍ

He will say, "It is the worst dwelling, O Lord."

فَيَقُولُ لَهُ تَفْتَدِي مِنِّي بِطِلَعِ الاَْرْضِ ذَهَبًا

Allah will ask him, "Would you ransom yourself from Me with the earth's fill of gold?"

فَيَقُولُ أَيْ رَبِّ نَعَمْ

He will say, "Yes, O Lord."

فَيَقُولُ كَذَبْتَ قَدْ سَأَلْتُكَ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَيْسَرَ فَلَمْ تَفْعَلْ

Allah will say, "You have lied. I asked you to do what is less and easier than that, but you did not do it,"

فَيُرَدُّ إِلَى النَّار

and he will be sent back to the Fire.

This is why Allah said,

أُوْلَـيِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ

For them is a painful torment and they will have no helpers.

for they shall not have anyone who will save them from the torment of Allah or rescue them from His painful punishment