Tafsir of Ar-Rum 30:44

"Whoever disbelieves, then his disbelief is upon him" (meaning: the bane and consequence of his disbelief, which is the eternal Fire). In the speech, there is an implied genitive case (idafa), or "disbelief" is used metaphorically for its recompense—indeed, for all harms beyond which there is no greater harm.

The pronoun in the first clause is singular in consideration of the word man (whoever), and in this lies an indication of their diminished stature and insignificance in the sight of Allah, despite what is known of their great number. Conversely, the pronoun is plural in His saying, "And whoever does righteousness, they are preparing for themselves" (44), in consideration of its meaning. In this, along with the observance of the verse ending (the fasilah), there is an indication of their high status and greatness in the sight of Allah.

Yamhadun (preparing/making smooth) is derived from the phrase "he smoothed his bed," meaning he levels it. A man prepares his bed for himself so that he is not struck while lying down by anything that might afflict him or disturb his rest, such as protrusions, gravel, or anything that might harm one who is sleeping. It is as if the state of the morally responsible person (mukallaf) along with his righteous deeds—by which he obtains reward and attains salvation from punishment—is likened to the state of one who prepares and levels his bed so that he may rest upon it, and nothing that causes distress may reach him in his resting place.

It has been suggested that the meaning is "they are showing compassion to themselves," based on the proverbial saying of the compassionate: "She smoothed the bed so she could sleep." Thus, the speech becomes a suggestive metonymy for compassion and mercy. However, the first interpretation is more manifest. It is apparent that this "leveling" refers to what is after death, in the grave and beyond. A group narrated from Mujahid that he said: "They are preparing beds in the grave," but that is not the preferred view.

The prepositional phrase is placed first in both instances to indicate exclusivity, though it has been said it is for the sake of importance. The contrast of "whoever disbelieves" with "whoever does righteousness" (rather than "whoever believes") is either to elevate the status of faith, based on the assumption that faith is what is intended by "righteous deeds," or to show extra concern for the status of the believing doer of deeds, based on the assumption that "righteous deeds" encompasses both deeds of the heart and deeds of the body. That the latter—the believing doer of deeds—is what is intended by "whoever does righteousness" is signaled by His saying: