Referent of “it” (هُ)
- The “it” in يُجْزَاهُ refers to the effort (سَعْي).
It is as if to say the effort was imperfect but Allah will add to it to make it complete.
Directness of recompense: يُجْزَاهُ without a preposition
The pronoun refers to effort, and the omission of a preposition closes the distance between deed and reward.
No preposition: no distance, no delay
- Ordinarily one is paid for/upon effort with a preposition like بِ or عَلَى; here, the preposition is omitted.
- This omission brings the one being paid and the payment together—no separation interposes even a particle.
- The rewards of Paradise are a direct reminder of the effort: each reward is a conversion of that effort, becoming synonymous with it.
ثُمَّ — thereafter: sequence with a pronounced leap
“Thumma” signals delay and a significant jump to a greater outcome.
Delay implied
ثُمَّ means “thereafter/then” after some time and delay, not just immediate succession.
A big jump
It indicates a big jump from the previous matter (efforts being seen) to something even greater.
The greater outcome
The sequence culminates in receiving the reward in full—entry into the reward in full by entering the doors of heaven.
الْجَزَاءَ الْأَوْفَىٰ — the most complete recompense
Completeness, augmentation of imperfect effort, and full payment without shortchange.
Qualifies the compensation
- “The most complete” qualifies the recompense—no aspect is left lacking.
- It can be understood to qualify the effort as reaching its most complete form—Allah adds to the imperfect to make it whole.
Full payment, no shortchange
- Everyone is given their recompense in full.
- No one is shortchanged.
Takeaways shaped by the ayah’s language
Effort-centered accountability, meaningful delay, and assured completeness.
Reward mirrors effort
The reward is a direct reminder and conversion of one’s سَعْي—it becomes synonymous with the effort.
Sequence with significance
ثُمَّ teaches that the showing of deeds precedes a greater, delayed bestowal—the fullest recompense.
Closeness, not distance
By omitting a preposition in يُجْزَاهُ, the text collapses the gap between the doer and their due.
Completion of the imperfect
The recompense is الأوفى: what was imperfect is completed, and recompense is given in full.