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This World & Hereafter
Surah: Al-Kahf (30)
Indeed We Do Not Waste the Reward of One Who Does Good
إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ مَنۡ أَحۡسَنَ عَمَلٗا
— الكهف الآية 30
Verse: "Indeed those who believed and did good — We do not waste the reward of one who does good." (18:30)
"We do not waste" (la nudhi'u): Absolute negation — no wasting in any kind or quantity. The smallest good deed is recorded and preserved.
"Who does good" not "most": "Ahsana" (quality) not quantity is the criterion — and ihsan means worshipping Allah as if you see Him.
Lesson: Nothing is wasted — the smile, kind word, look, and night prayer are all preserved. The worker works with the certainty of preservation.
"We do not waste" (la nudhi'u): Absolute negation — no wasting in any kind or quantity. The smallest good deed is recorded and preserved.
"Who does good" not "most": "Ahsana" (quality) not quantity is the criterion — and ihsan means worshipping Allah as if you see Him.
Lesson: Nothing is wasted — the smile, kind word, look, and night prayer are all preserved. The worker works with the certainty of preservation.
Source: Ibn Kathir (5/163); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (10/393)
Test Yourself
Why did the Quran say "who does good" (ahsana) rather than "who does more"?
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