the worst of what they had been doing.
أسوأ الذي كانوا يعملون
meaning the ugliest retribution for their deeds
" Look the worst of what they used to do
أسوأ الذي كانوا يعملون
Yes, they are recompensed; the retribution is from their deeds. They are not recompensed with it; they are the ones who did it. So when it says: the worst of what they had been doing.
أسوأ الذي كانوا يعملون
the intended meaning is the worst retribution, not the worst deed, because the deed is the action of the servant and the retribution is the action of Allah with him. And what is intended here is the action of the servant or the action of Allah with him? The action of Allah with him. And for this reason He said: We will surely reward them
لنجزينهم
, so if someone asks why the deed was used to refer to their retribution? We say: as an indication that the retribution is in proportion to the deed. And for this reason the scholars said: The retribution is of the same kind as the deed. The retribution is of the same kind as the deed, but with regard to sins it is justice, and with regard to good deeds it is grace. A good deed is ten times its like, up to seven hundred times, up to many times, and an evil deed is its like. And His saying: the worst of what they had been doing.
أسوأَ الذي كانوا يعملون
the apparent meaning of the verse is that Allah recompenses them with their worst deeds. And other than the worst? Other than the worst is what is below the worst, meaning the bad. So is the disbeliever recompensed with his ugliest deeds or with all his deeds? This depends on whether the disbeliever is addressed with the branches or not? Is the disbeliever addressed with the branches or not addressed? Do you know the meaning of this issue? For example: Is the disbeliever addressed with maintaining family ties? Is he addressed with truthfulness? Is he required to pray? Is he addressed with zakah and the like? In this there is scholarly disagreement, and the correct view is that he is addressed with the branches of deeds, because if the Muslim is addressed with them, then the disbeliever is all the more so. How can we say that the Muslim is recompensed and punished for undutifulness to parents, and the disbeliever is not punished? This is not possible. So the correct view is that they are addressed with the branches of the Shari'ah, but they are not addressed to perform them. That is, it is not said to the disbeliever like the one who smokes: come, do not smoke, it is forbidden for you. Is this appropriate or not? Not appropriate. The disbeliever: call him to Islam first, then speak to him. So being addressed with the branches of the Shari'ah does not mean that he is commanded to perform them. No, being addressed with the branches of the Shari'ah means does he perform them if he becomes a Muslim? No, because Allah said: Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them
قل للذين كفروا إن ينتهوا يغفر لهم ما قد سلف
So what is the benefit? The scholars said: The benefit in our saying that the disbeliever is addressed with the branches of the Shari'ah is the increase of their punishment in the Hereafter, that they are punished for them. And this is the truth. The people of the right hand ask the criminals: What has brought you into Saqar? Meaning what has put you into the Fire? (43) They will say, "We were not of those who prayed, (44) Nor did we used to feed the poor. (45) And we used to enter into vain discourse with those who engaged [in it], (46) And we used to deny the Day of Recompense (47) Until there came to us the certainty."
قالوا لم نك من المصلين * ولم نك نطعم المسكين * وكنا نخوض مع الخائضين * وكنا نكذب بيوم الدين * حتى أتانا اليقين
So they mentioned prayer and feeding the poor, and both are from the branches of the Shari'ah. So according to the view that they are not recompensed with the branches of the Shari'ah, we say: Yes, on the Day of Resurrection they are not recompensed except for their worst deeds, which is disbelief. But according to the stronger view—that they are addressed with the branches of the Shari'ah and punished for them—then here the worst
أسوأ
the worst was mentioned because it is the most severe, and the intended meaning here is threat. And is a person threatened with the lighter or the more severe? With the more severe. This is the apparent meaning, and Allah knows best. " what they used to do.
الذي كانوا يعملون
meaning the ugliest retribution for their deeds "
