قُل هَل نُنَبِّئُكُم بِالأَخسَرينَ أَعمالًا

Say: ‘Shall we inform you about the biggest losers in regard to works?

EXEGESIS

Makārim Shīrāzī proposes that the plural for works (aʿmālan) is used, even though generally in Arabic the specifying accusative (tamyīz) should be singular (ʿamalan in this case), to draw attention to the fact that they have incurred loss in all aspects of their life and actions.^{‎[1]Nemuneh, 12/560.}

EXPOSITION

Continuing with the topic of myopia and the description of people who cannot see the consequences of their own actions, God now tells us in the next four verses of people who because of their lack of knowledge and perception think they are good and acting in a righteous manner, but in reality their deeds have no good in them and will not benefit them on the Day of Judgement.

Say: the command is directed at the Holy Prophet. It is as if there was a discussion about the contents of the surah and its main theme and how people are not aware of the true outcome of their actions, to which God then informs them of who is the biggest loser in this regard.

Shall we inform you: the address here is general to the entire audience of the Quran. The you being utilised is the plural ‘you all’.

About the biggest losers in regard to works: that is those who have suffered the greatest loss with regards to their efforts in this world. The next verse explains who these people are.

REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE

Ṭūsī claims this and the next verse are Medinan;^{‎[2]Tibyan, 7/96.} this is a strange claim and he does not provide any reasoning for it. It seems to be based on the claim that the verse intends the disbelievers of the People of the Book, as proposed by some. However, there is no indication in the context that they would be intended. What is more correct is that the verse is Meccan – like the rest of the surah – and it should not be seen as just intending one group or another.^{‎[3]See also Ibn Kathir, 5/180.}

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. What benefit is there to a man in all his labors that he toils under the sun? … I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and indeed, all is vanity and like chasing the wind.^{‎[4]Ecclesiastes 1:3-14.}

[1] Nemuneh, 12/560.
[2] Tibyan, 7/96.
[3] See also Ibn Kathir, 5/180.
[4] Ecclesiastes 1:3-14.