English Translation of Al-Quran
[37].Surah As-Saffat (Those Ranged in Ranks)
Ayat 35. Truly, when it was said to them: La ilaha ill-Allah “(none has the right to be worshipped but Allah),” they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it).
Ayat 36. And (they) said: “Are we going to abandon our aliha (gods) for the sake of a mad poet?
Ayat 37. Nay! Allah’s Messengers (PBUH) has come with the truth (i.e. Allah’s Religion – Islamic Monotheism and this Qur’an) and confirms the Messengers (before him who brought Allah’s religion – Islamic Monotheism).
Ayat 38. Verily, you (pagans of Makkah) are going to taste the painful torment;
Ayat 39. And you will be requited nothing except for what you used to do (evil deeds, sins, and Allah’s disobedience which you used to do in this world);
Tafseer of Surah As-Saffat (Those Ranged in Ranks) Ayat 35. For they, when they were told that there is no god except Allah, would puff themselves up with Pride, Selfish arrogance was the seed of sin and rebellion: 2:34 (of Satan): 28:39 (of Pharaoh); etc. It is that kind of arrogance which prevents man from mending his life and conduct. When he speaks of ancestral ways, or public opinion, or national honor, he is usually thinking of himself or of a small clique which thrives on injustice. The recognition of Allah, the one true God, as the only standard of life and conduct, the Eternal Reality, cuts out Self, and is therefore disagreeable to Sin. If false gods are imagined, who themselves would have weaknesses that fit in with sin, they give countenance to evils, and it becomes difficult to give them up, unless Allah’s grace comes to our assistance. Ayat 36. And say: “What! shall we give up our gods for the sake of a Poet possessed?” Possessed of an evil spirit, or mad. Such was the charge which the Unbelievers sometimes levelled at the Prophet in the early stages of his preaching. Ayat 37. Nay! He has come with the (very) Truth, and he confirms (the Message of) the messengers (before him). The message of Islam, so far from being “mad” or in any way peculiar, is eminently conformable to reason and the true facts of nature as created by Allah. It is the Truth in the purest sense of the term, and confirms the Message of all true Messengers that ever lived. Ayat 38. Ye shall indeed taste of the Grievous Penalty; Ayat 39. But it will be no more than the retribution of (the Evil) that ye have wrought; Justice demands that those who sow evil should reap the fruit, but the punishment is due to their own conduct and not to anything external to themselves.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) said, “When an infidel accomplishes any good deed, he is rewarded for it in this world; and in the case of a Muslim, Allah stores up his good acts for him in the Hereafter and provides him with subsistence in this life due to his obedience.”
[Muslim Book 39, Chapter 11, Hadith # 6739]
Another narration is: Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW] (PBUH) said, “Allah does not wrong a believer a good deed because he is given blessings for it in this world and will be rewarded for it in the Hereafter. But the infidel is given in the world the reward for good deeds, he has performed for the sake of Allah and when he comes to the Hereafter, there is no good deed for which he can be rewarded”.
[Muslim Book 39, Chapter 11, Hadith # 6740]
Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah As-Saffat Ayat 39. And you will be requited nothing except for what you used to do (evil deeds, sins, and Allah’s disobedience which you used to do in this world);” The infidels also do in this world many works which are for public welfare, or which come under the category of good deeds. Almighty Allah gives them reward for such good deeds in this world in the form of wealth, sound health, or saving them from some trouble, because Belief is precondition for reward in the Hereafter. Since an infidel is deprived of it, he will also be deprived of their reward in the Hereafter. Thus, we learn that Belief constitutes the basis of every action and is a precondition for the acceptance of any good deed by Allah.