Translation of the meanings Ayah 123 Surah An-Nisā’ - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 123

لَّيۡسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمۡ وَلَآ أَمَانِيِّ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِۗ مَن يَعۡمَلۡ سُوٓءٗا يُجۡزَ بِهِۦ وَلَا يَجِدۡ لَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيّٗا وَلَا نَصِيرٗا

(123) It^[1000] is neither after your ˹Believers˺ wishes nor is it after the wishes of the People of the Book^[1001]; whoever does evil will be requited for it^[1002]—he would never find besides Allah an ally or helper.

[1000] Salvation and attaining good things in both this life and the life to come (cf. Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī), is earned through firm, unwavering Belief in God, worshiping Him in accordance with the dictates of Islam and following the rightly-oriented creed of Abraham, not through wishful thinking.
[1001] “They said: “None will enter Paradise but those who are Jews or Christians”. Those are their ˹vain˺ wishes. Say to them: “Produce your proof if you are truthful!”” (2: 111)
[1002] Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) said: “When: “…whoever does evil will be requited for it” was revealed, it came down hard on Muslims. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Try your best! Whatever befalls a Muslim expiates his sins; every calamity he stumbles upon or thorn that pricks him”.” (Muslim: 2574)