The Holy Quran 17:15 — Surah Al-Isra

Arabic text

مَّنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا

Translation

Whoever is rightly guided is guided for his own benefit (because he will enjoy the fruits of it) and whoever has strayed (from the truth) has gone astray only to his own (loss) detriment (to his own loss because he alone will suffer the punishment for his wrongdoing). No soul shall bear the burden of another (each person will suffer punishment for the sins s/he committed and not for the sins that others commit). (However, no person suffers punishment without prior warning because) We shall never punish (anyone) until We send a messenger (who informs him about the consequences of his actions).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

Every person is responsible only for his own deeds: that is, Allah has shown the straight path to everyone; now whoever walks on it or does not, let him consider for himself what is good or bad for him, because the benefit or harm of his own course of action will reach him alone. The bundle of one person's sins will not be placed on the head of another.

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