Surah Abraham

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

[Surah Abraham (14): verse 18]

“The deeds of those who disbelieve in their Lord are like ashes swept by a fierce wind on a stormy day. They will have no power over anything they have earned. That is straying far astray.” (18)

Allah Most High likens the deeds of the disbelievers, in their worthlessness and lack of benefit, to ashes swept by a fierce wind on a stormy day.

He thus likens their deeds—which come to nothing and vanish like scattered dust because they have no foundation in faith and excellence, are done for other than Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, and do not conform to His command—to ashes scattered by a stormy wind. Their owner cannot recover any of them when he needs them most. Hence His words: “They will have no power over anything they have earned.” On the Day of Resurrection, they will have no power over any of the deeds they have earned: they will see no reward resulting from them and derive no benefit. For Allah accepts only deeds done sincerely for His sake and in accordance with His revealed law.

Deeds are of four kinds: one is accepted, and three are rejected.

The accepted deed is that which is sincere and correct. Sincerity means that it is done for Allah, not for anyone else.