Tafsir of An-Najm 53:31

"And to Allah belongs whatever is in..."

It has been recited as li-yajziya (that He may recompense) and yujza (that [the doer] may be recompensed), with both ya and nun in both forms. Its meaning is: Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, only created the world and fashioned this kingdom for this purpose—to recompense the accountable among His servants, the doer of good and the doer of evil.

It is also possible that it relates to His saying: "He is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is guided" (An-Najm: 30), because the result of knowing the strayer and the guided is their recompense.

"For what they did" By the punishment for the evil they committed.

"And [He will reward] with the best" With the best reward, which is Paradise. Or, [it means] because of what they did of evil and because of the good deeds.

"The major sins" Meaning the major [categories] of sin; for "sin" is a genus that includes both major and minor [sins]. Major sins are those whose punishment is not averted except by repentance. It is also said: they are those whose punishment is great in relation to the reward of the one who commits them.

"And immoralities" That which is excessive among the major sins. It is as if He said: "And the immoralities among them specifically." It has been recited as kabir al-ithm (the major [type] of sin), meaning the major category of it. It is also said: it is associating partners with Allah (shirk).

"Except the lamam (minor faults)" Al-lamam is that which is small and slight. From this comes al-lamam (a touch of madness), and al-lawtha (a slight mental disturbance). One says alama at a place if his stay there is brief. One says alama regarding food if he ate only a little of it. From this is the verse: "Meeting the pure friends is but a brief encounter (limam)." The intended meaning is minor sins.

The saying of the Exalted, "Except the lamam," is either an interrupted exception (istithna' munqati') or an adjective, like His saying: "If there were within them gods besides Allah" (Al-Anbiya: 22), as if it were said: "Major sins other than the minor faults," and "gods other than Allah."

• Abu Sa'id al-Khudri: Al-lamam is the [forbidden] glance, the wink, and the kiss.
• Al-Suddi: The passing thought of a sin.
• Al-Kalbi: Every sin for which Allah has not mentioned a specific legal penalty (hadd) or punishment.
• 'Ata': The habit of the soul from time to time.

"Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness" In that He expiates minor sins through the avoidance of major ones, and major sins through repentance.

"So do not claim yourselves to be pure" Do not attribute yourselves to purity of action, abundance of goodness, and the performance of acts of obedience; or to purity and cleansing from sins. Do not praise yourselves, but rather humble them. For Allah knew the pure and the righteous among you, first and last, before He brought you forth from the loins of Adam, and before you emerged from the wombs of your mothers.

It is said: There were people who would perform good deeds and then say, "Our prayer, our fasting, and our pilgrimage [are sufficient]." So this was revealed. This applies if it is done out of self-admiration or showing off. As for the one who believes that the good work he performed is from Allah, by His success and support, and does not intend by it to praise himself, he is not among those who claim purity for themselves; for joy in obedience is obedience, and mentioning it is gratitude.