and reward him for his good deeds. As for the disbeliever, his good deeds will be returned to him, and He will punish him for his evil deeds.

Muhammad ibn Ka'b said concerning this verse, “Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it”: This refers to a disbeliever, who will see its reward in this world—in himself, his wealth, his family, and his children—until he leaves this world with no good remaining for him with Allah. “And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it”: This refers to a believer, who will see its punishment in this world—in himself, his wealth, his family, and his children—until he leaves this world with no evil remaining for him with Allah.

Muqatil said: This verse was revealed concerning two men. When the verse, “And they give food in spite of their love for it,” was revealed, one of them, when a beggar came to him, considered it too insignificant to give him a date, a morsel of bread, a walnut, or something similar. He would say, “This is nothing. We are rewarded only for what we give while we ourselves love it.” The other would take lightly a minor sin, such as a lie, backbiting, a glance, and the like. He would say, “Allah has only threatened the Fire for major sins; there is no sin in this.” So Allah, Exalted is He, revealed this verse, encouraging them to give even a little good, for it may soon become abundant, and warning them against even a little sin, for it may soon become abundant. (1) A sin that appears small in its perpetrator’s eyes will be greater than mountains on the Day of Resurrection, while all his good deeds [in his own eyes] (2) will be less than everything.

Ibn Mas'ud said: “The most decisive verse in the Quran is: ‘Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.’”

When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked about the zakah due on donkeys, he called it the all-encompassing, unique verse, saying: “Nothing concerning them has been revealed to me except this all-encompassing, unique verse: ‘Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.’” (3)

Umar ibn al-Khattab and Aishah gave a single grape in charity, and said, “It contains many atom-weights.” (4)

Al-Rabi' ibn Khaytham said: A man passed by al-Hasan while he was reciting this surah. When he reached its end, the man said, “This is enough for me; the admonition has come to an end.” (5)