The Holy Quran 24:39 — Surah An-Nur

Arabic text

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍۭ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ ٱلظَّمْـَٔانُ مَآءً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَهُۥ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْـًٔا وَوَجَدَ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ فَوَفَّىٰهُ حِسَابَهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ

Translation

The deeds of the Kuffaar are (worthless because they have no Imaan) like a mirage on a barren plain that a thirsty person thinks to be water until, when he approaches it (to have a drink of water), he finds nothing. (Similarly, when a Kaafir arrives in the Aakhirah expecting to be rewarded for the good he did in this world, he will find no rewards for him. On the contrary, when he arrives on the Day of Qiyaamah,) He finds only Allaah's decision (punishment) there, after which Allaah grants him his full due (the punishment for his kufr and sins). Allaah is Swift in reckoning.

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The parable of the deeds of the disbelievers: disbelievers are of two kinds. The first are those who, according to their own notions and beliefs, do some good deeds and think these will be of use after death; yet even if a deed is outwardly good, owing to the ill fortune of disbelief it is neither accepted nor of any worth with Allah.

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