Quran Verses about Responsibility

تِلۡكَ أُمَّةٞ قَدۡ خَلَتۡۖ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبۡتُمۡۖ وَلَا تُسۡـَٔلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١٣٤

Tilka ummatun qad khalat, lahā mā kasabat wa lakum mā kasabtum, wa lā tusʾalūna ʿammā kānū yaʿmalūn.

That was a nation which has passed on. It will have [the consequence of] what it earned, and you will have what you have earned. And you will not be asked about what they used to do.

وَمَن يَكۡسِبۡ إِثۡمٗا فَإِنَّمَا يَكۡسِبُهُۥ عَلَىٰ نَفۡسِهِۦۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمٗا ١١١

Wa may yaksib ithman fa innamā yaksibuhū ʿalā nafsih, wa kānallāhu ʿalīman ḥakīmā.

And whoever earns [i.e., commits] a sin only earns it against himself. And Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.

مَّنۡ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا فَلِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَنۡ أَسَآءَ فَعَلَيۡهَاۗ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِظَلَّٰمٖ لِّلۡعَبِيدِ ٤٦

Man ʿamila ṣāliḥan falinafsih, wa man asāʾa faʿalayhā, wa mā rabbuka biẓallāmil lil-ʿabīd.

Whoever does righteousness - it is for his [own] soul; and whoever does evil [does so] against it. And your Lord is not ever unjust to [His] servants.

مَنۡ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا فَلِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَنۡ أَسَآءَ فَعَلَيۡهَاۖ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ تُرۡجَعُونَ ١٥

Man ʿamila ṣāliḥan falinafsih, wa man asāʾa faʿalayhā, thumma ilā rabbikum turjaʿūn.

Whoever does a good deed - it is for himself; and whoever does evil - it is against it [i.e., the self or soul]. Then to your Lord you will be returned.

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱتَّبَعَتۡهُمۡ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَٰنٍ أَلۡحَقۡنَا بِهِمۡ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ وَمَآ أَلَتۡنَٰهُم مِّنۡ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَيۡءٖۚ كُلُّ ٱمۡرِيِٕۭ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٞ ٢١

Wal-ladhīna āmanū wattabaʿathum dhurriyyatuhum biʾīmānin alḥaqnā bihim dhurriyyatahum wa mā alatnāhum min ʿamalihim min shayʾ, kullumriʾim bimā kasaba rahīn.

And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds.¹ Every person, for what he earned, is retained.²

أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٞ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰ ٣٨

Allā taziru wāziratuw wizra ukhrā.

That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another

وَأَن لَّيۡسَ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ ٣٩

Wa al laysa lil-insāni illā mā saʿā.

And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives

وَأَنَّ سَعۡيَهُۥ سَوۡفَ يُرَىٰ ٤٠

Wa anna saʿyahū sawfa yurā.

And that his effort is going to be seen -

ثُمَّ يُجۡزَىٰهُ ٱلۡجَزَآءَ ٱلۡأَوۡفَىٰ ٤١

Thumma yujzāhul-jazāʾal-awfā.

Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense -

كُلُّ نَفۡسِۭ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ رَهِينَةٌ ٣٨

Kullu nafsim bimā kasabat rahīnah.

Every soul, for what it has earned, will be retained¹

فَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيۡرٗا يَرَهُۥ ٧

Famay yaʿmal mithqāla dharratin khayray yarah.

So whoever does an atom's weight¹ of good will see it,

وَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةٖ شَرّٗا يَرَهُۥ ٨

Wa may yaʿmal mithqāla dharratin sharray yarah.

And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it.

قُلۡ أَغَيۡرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبۡغِي رَبّٗا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖۚ وَلَا تَكۡسِبُ كُلُّ نَفۡسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيۡهَاۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٞ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ فِيهِ تَخۡتَلِفُونَ ١٦٤

Qul aghayrallāhi abghī rabbaw wa huwa rabbu kulli shayʾ, wa lā taksibu kullu nafsin illā ʿalayhā, wa lā taziru wāziratuw wizra ukhrā, thumma ilā rabbikum marjiʿukum fayunabbiʾukum bimā kuntum fīhi takhtalifūn.

Say, "Is it other than Allāh I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ."

مَّنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهۡتَدِي لِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيۡهَاۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٞ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰۗ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبۡعَثَ رَسُولٗا ١٥

Manihtadā fa innamā yahtadī linafsih, wa man ḍalla fa innamā yaḍillu ʿalayhā, wa lā taziru wāziratuw wizra ukhrā, wa mā kunnā muʿadhdhibīna ḥattā nabʿatha rasūlā.

Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.

وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٞ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰۚ وَإِن تَدۡعُ مُثۡقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمۡلِهَا لَا يُحۡمَلۡ مِنۡهُ شَيۡءٞ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰٓۗ إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَۚ وَمَن تَزَكَّىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَتَزَكَّىٰ لِنَفۡسِهِۦۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ ١٨

Wa lā taziru wāziratuw wizra ukhrā, wa in tadʿu muthqalatun ilā ḥimlihā lā yuḥmal minhu shayʾuw wa law kāna dhā qurbā, innamā tundhirul-ladhīna yakhshawna rabbahum bil-ghaybi wa aqāmuṣ-ṣalāh, wa man tazakkā fa innamā yatazakkā linafsih, wa ilallāhil-maṣīr.

And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls [another] to [carry some of] its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he should be a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer. And whoever purifies himself only purifies himself for [the benefit of] his soul. And to Allāh is the [final] destination.

إِن تَكۡفُرُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنكُمۡۖ وَلَا يَرۡضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ ٱلۡكُفۡرَۖ وَإِن تَشۡكُرُواْ يَرۡضَهُ لَكُمۡۗ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٞ وِزۡرَ أُخۡرَىٰۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ ٧

In takfurū fa innallāha ghaniyyun ʿankum, wa lā yarḍā liʿibādihil-kufr, wa in tashkurū yarḍahu lakum, wa lā taziru wāziratuw wizra ukhrā, thumma ilā rabbikum marjiʿukum fayunabbiʾukum bimā kuntum taʿmalūn, innahū ʿalīmum bidhātiṣ-ṣudūr.

If you disbelieve - indeed, Allāh is Free from need of you. And He does not approve for His servants disbelief. And if you are grateful, He approves [i.e., likes] it for you; and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you about what you used to do. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.

وَكُلَّ إِنسَٰنٍ أَلۡزَمۡنَٰهُ طَٰٓئِرَهُۥ فِي عُنُقِهِۦۖ وَنُخۡرِجُ لَهُۥ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ كِتَٰبٗا يَلۡقَىٰهُ مَنشُورًا ١٣

Wa kulla insānin alzamnāhu ṭāʾirahū fī ʿunuqih, wa nukhriju lahū yawmal-qiyāmati kitābay yalqāhu manshūrā.

And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck,¹ and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open.

ٱقۡرَأۡ كِتَٰبَكَ كَفَىٰ بِنَفۡسِكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكَ حَسِيبٗا ١٤

Iqraʾ kitābaka kafā binafsikal-yawma ʿalayka ḥasībā.

[It will be said], "Read your record. Sufficient is yourself against you this Day as accountant."

يُنَبَّؤُاْ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ يَوۡمَئِذِۭ بِمَا قَدَّمَ وَأَخَّرَ ١٣

Yunabbaʾul-insānu yawmaʾidhim bimā qaddama wa akhkhar.

Man will be informed that Day of what he sent ahead¹ and kept back.²

بَلِ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ عَلَىٰ نَفۡسِهِۦ بَصِيرَةٞ ١٤

Balil-insānu ʿalā nafsihī baṣīrah.

Rather, man, against himself, will be a witness,¹

وَلَوۡ أَلۡقَىٰ مَعَاذِيرَهُۥ ١٥

Wa law alqā maʿādhīrah.

Even if he presents his excuses.

فَلَنَسۡـَٔلَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُرۡسِلَ إِلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَنَسۡـَٔلَنَّ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ٦

Falanasʾalannal-ladhīna ursila ilayhim wa lanasʾalannal-mursalīn.

Then We will surely question those to whom [a message] was sent, and We will surely question the messengers.

فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَسۡـَٔلَنَّهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ ٩٢

Fawarabbika lanasʾalannahum ajmaʿīn.

So by your Lord, We will surely question them all

عَمَّا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٩٣

ʿAmmā kānū yaʿmalūn.

About what they used to do.

وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمۡ أُمَّةٗ وَٰحِدَةٗ وَلَٰكِن يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهۡدِي مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَلَتُسۡـَٔلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ ٩٣

Wa law shāʾallāhu lajaʿalakum ummataw wāḥidataw wa lākiy yuḍillu may yashāʾu wa yahdī may yashāʾ, wa latusʾalunna ʿammā kuntum taʿmalūn.

And if Allāh had willed, He could have made you [of] one religion, but He sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills.¹ And you will surely be questioned about what you used to do.

وَلَا تَقۡفُ مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٌۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡبَصَرَ وَٱلۡفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنۡهُ مَسۡـُٔولٗا ٣٦

Wa lā taqfu mā laysa laka bihī ʿilm, innas-samʿa wal-baṣara wal-fuʾāda kullu ulāʾika kāna ʿanhu masʾūlā.

And do not pursue¹ that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.

وَقِفُوهُمۡۖ إِنَّهُم مَّسۡـُٔولُونَ ٢٤

Waqifūhum, innahum masʾūlūn.

And stop them; indeed, they are to be questioned."

ثُمَّ لَتُسۡـَٔلُنَّ يَوۡمَئِذٍ عَنِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ٨

Thumma latusʾalunna yawmaʾidhin ʿanin-naʿīm.

Then you will surely be asked that Day about pleasure.¹

لِيَحۡمِلُوٓاْ أَوۡزَارَهُمۡ كَامِلَةٗ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وَمِنۡ أَوۡزَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٍۗ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ ٢٥

Liyaḥmilū awzārahum kāmilatay yawmal-qiyāmati wa min awzāril-ladhīna yuḍillūnahum bighayri ʿilm, alā sāʾa mā yazirūn.

That they may bear their own burdens [i.e., sins] in full on the Day of Resurrection and some of the burdens of those whom they misguide without [i.e., by lack of] knowledge. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear.

وَلَيَحۡمِلُنَّ أَثۡقَالَهُمۡ وَأَثۡقَالٗا مَّعَ أَثۡقَالِهِمۡۖ وَلَيُسۡـَٔلُنَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ عَمَّا كَانُواْ يَفۡتَرُونَ ١٣

Wa layaḥmilunna athqālahum wa athqālam maʿa athqālihim, wa layusʾalunna yawmal-qiyāmati ʿammā kānū yaftarūn.

But they will surely carry their [own] burdens and [other] burdens along with their burdens,¹ and they will surely be questioned on the Day of Resurrection about what they used to invent.

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَعَلَيۡهَا مَا ٱكۡتَسَبَتۡۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوۡ أَخۡطَأۡنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَيۡنَآ إِصۡرٗا كَمَا حَمَلۡتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِنَاۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلۡنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦۖ وَٱعۡفُ عَنَّا وَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَآۚ أَنتَ مَوۡلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ ٢٨٦

Lā yukallifullāhu nafsan illā wusʿahā, lahā mā kasabat wa ʿalayhā maktasabat, rabbanā lā tuʾākhidhnā in nasīnā aw akhṭaʾnā, rabbanā wa lā taḥmil ʿalaynā iṣran kamā ḥamaltahū ʿalal-ladhīna min qablinā, rabbanā wa lā tuḥammilnā mā lā ṭāqata lanā bih, waʿfu ʿannā waghfir lanā warḥamnā, anta mawlānā fanṣurnā ʿalal-qawmil-kāfirīn.

Allāh does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."¹

وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ مَالَ ٱلۡيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِي هِيَ أَحۡسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبۡلُغَ أَشُدَّهُۥۚ وَأَوۡفُواْ ٱلۡكَيۡلَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۖ وَإِذَا قُلۡتُمۡ فَٱعۡدِلُواْ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰۖ وَبِعَهۡدِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡفُواْۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ ١٥٢

Wa lā taqrabū mālal-yatīmi illā bil-latī hiya aḥsanu ḥattā yablugha ashuddah, wa awful-kayla wal-mīzāna bil-qisṭ, lā nukallifu nafsan illā wusʿahā, wa idhā qultum faʿdilū wa law kāna dhā qurbā, wabiʿahdillāhi awfū, dhālikum waṣṣākum bihī laʿallakum tadhakkarūn.

And do not approach the orphan's property except in a way that is best [i.e., intending improvement] until he reaches maturity. And give full measure and weight in justice. We do not charge any soul except [with that within] its capacity. And when you speak [i.e., testify], be just, even if [it concerns] a near relative. And the covenant of Allāh fulfill. This has He instructed you that you may remember.

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَآ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ٤٢

Wal-ladhīna āmanū wa ʿamiluṣ-ṣāliḥāti lā nukallifu nafsan illā wusʿahā ulāʾika aṣḥābul-jannah, hum fīhā khālidūn.

But those who believed and did righteous deeds - We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.

وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ وَلَدَيۡنَا كِتَٰبٞ يَنطِقُ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ ٦٢

Wa lā nukallifu nafsan illā wusʿahā, wa ladaynā kitābuy yanṭiqu bil-ḥaqqi wa hum lā yuẓlamūn.

And We charge no soul except [with that within] its capacity, and with Us is a record which speaks with truth; and they will not be wronged.