Tafsir of Al-Lail 92:11

Chapter: Night (Al-Layl): Verse 11

(11) And what will avail him [his wealth]...

Know that the particle mā (what) here can carry two meanings:

1. Interrogation implying denial (Inkar): A rhetorical question expressing negation.
2. Simple negation (Nafy).

As for the word {تَرَدَّى} (taraddā), there are two interpretations:

First Interpretation: It is derived from the expression, "He fell from the mountain" (تردّى من الجبل), as in the verse: {And that which is killed by falling, and that which is gored by horns...} (Al-Mā’idah: 3).

In this sense, {تَرَدَّى} means he falls into a pit (i.e., when buried) or falls into the depths of Hellfire.

The implied meaning of the verse is: "If We facilitate him toward hardship (i.e., Hellfire), he will fall into Hellfire. Then, what good will his wealth do him, which he hoarded and left for his heir, and which he did not bring with him to the Hereafter—the place of his poverty and need? Nothing will avail him," just as Allah says: {And you have certainly come to Us individually just as We created you the first time, and you have left behind whatever We provided you behind your backs} (Al-An‘ām: 94), and {And We will inherit from him what he says, and he will come to Us alone} (Maryam: 80).

This indicates that what benefits a person is the good deeds and the spending of wealth in its rightful places that he sends forth, not the wealth he leaves behind for his heirs.

Second Interpretation: {تَرَدَّى} is derived from al-radā (الردى), which means destruction or death.

As for the saying of Allah, the Exalted:

< { Indeed, upon Us is the guidance. } >