Surah Taa-Haa
Chapter 20 · Verse 15 · Revealed in Makkah
“Indeed, the Hour is coming - I almost conceal it - so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives.”
Translation: Saheeh International
Listen to recitation
Mishary Rashid Alafasy
Reflection — Ibn Kathir
The First Revelation to Musa
Allah, the Exalted, says,
فَلَمَّآ أَتَاهَا
Reflection — Maarif ul Quran
أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا (I would keep it secret - 20:15): Allah Ta` ala says that He wishes to keep the circumstances relating to the Day of Judgment hidden from all created things including prophets and angels. The word أَكَادُ (I would) gives a subtle hint that it is only to induce people to good deeds that the coming of the Day of Judgment has been disclosed, otherwise even this fact would have been concealed.
لِتُجْزَىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا تَسْعَىٰ (So that everyone is given a return for the effort one makes - 20:15). If this phrase is taken to be linked with the word آتِيَةٌ (has to come) then it would mean that this world is not a place of requital. Here a person does not receive recompense according to his merits and even if he receives some reward in this world it is just a token which does not constitute the full recompense of his deeds. It is, therefore, essential that there should be a time when everybody would receive his due reward.
What does this verse bring up for you today?