English Translation of Al-Quran
[37].Surah As-Saffat (Those Ranged in Ranks)
Ayat 22. (It will be said to the angels): “Assemble those who did wrong, together with their companions (from the devils) and what they used to worship.
Ayat 23. “Instead of Allah, and lead them on to the way of flaming Fire (Hell);
Ayat 24. “But stop them, verily they are to be questioned.
Ayat 25. “What is the matter with you? Why do you not help one another (as you used to do in the world)?”
Tafseer of Surah As-Saffat (Those Ranged in Ranks) Ayat 22 to 25. “Bring ye up”, it shall be said, “The wrong-doers and their wives, and the things they worship- That is, if their wives were also wrongdoers. They are separately mentioned, because the Arabic phrase for “wrongdoers” is of the masculine gender. All the associates in wrongdoing will be marshalled together. There will be personal responsibility: neither husband nor wife can lay the blame on the other. Ayat 23. “Besides Allah, and lead them to the Way to the (Fierce) Fire! Ayat 24. “But stop them, for they must be asked: The scene here is after judgment. As, in an earthly tribunal, the prisoner or his advocate is asked why sentence should not be pronounced upon him, so here those who are proved to have been guilty of wrong are allowed to consider if anything or anyone can help them. Then comes the exposure of the misleaders. Ayat 25. “What is the matter with you that ye help not each other? “Obviously no one can stand and intercede, for it is a question of personal responsibility for each soul. No one can help another.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) said, “Almighty Allah says, `I am the One who is most free from want of partners. He who does a thing for the sake of someone else beside Me, I discard him and his polytheism”.
[Muslim Book 042, Chapter 06, Hadith # 7114].
Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah As-Saffat Ayat 25. “What is the matter with you? Why do you not help one another (as you used to do in the world)?”
He who does a thing for the sake of someone else beside Me” here means to do something virtuous for mere show for worldly benefit, or to gain the reputation of being pious. “I discard him and his polytheism” means that “I nullify his good deeds and deprive him of the reward.” In this Hadith any virtue done for the sake of mere show has been likened to Shirk to make its viciousness and harm obvious. However, this is Ash-Shirk Al-Asghar, and those who commit it will not be forbidden access to Jannah. They will, after the punishment in Hell, ultimately enter Jannah. Whereas, those who are guilty of Ash-Shirk Al-Akbar and sheer Shirk will abide in Hell forever.