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Islaam.Com Qur'an
The Life of this World is Fleeting Enjoyment Imam Ibn
Kathir
Tafsir Ibn Katheer (Abridged) Volume 9
© Darussalam 2000
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B i s m i l l a a h i r R a h m a a n i r R a h e e m
"Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and
mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. (It
is) like a rain (Ghayth), thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller;
afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw.
But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment, and (there is) forgiveness
from Allah and (His) pleasure. And the life of this world is only a deceiving
enjoyment." [57:20]
Allah the Exalted degrades the significance of this life and belittles it by
saying,
"that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual
boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children."
Meaning, this is the significance of this life to its people, just as He said
in another Ayah,
"Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much
of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled
land. This is the pleasure of the present world's life; but Allah has the
excellent return with Him." (3:14)
Allah the Exalted also sets a parable for this life, declaring that its joys
are fading and its delights are perishable, saying that life is,
"Like a rain (Ghayth)," which is the rain that comes down to mankind, after
they had felt despair.
Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah,
"And He is it Who sends down the Ghayth (rain) after they have despaired."
(42:28)
Allah's statement,
"thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller;"
meaning that farmers admire the vegetation that grows in the aftermath of
rain.
And just as farmers admire vegetation, the disbelievers admire this life; they
are the most eager to acquire the traits of life, and life is most dear to
them,
"afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw."
Meaning, that vegetation soon turns yellow in color, after being fresh and
green. After that, the green fades away and becomes scattered pieces of dust.
This is the parable of this worldly life, it starts young, then matures and
then turns old and feeble. This is also the parable of mankind in this life;
they are young and strong in the beginning. In this stage of life, they look
youthful and handsome. Slowly, they begin growing older, their mannerism
changes and their strength weakens. They then grow old and feeble; moving
becomes difficult for them, while doing easy things becomes beyond their
ability.
Allah the Exalted said,
"Allah is He Who created you in (a state of) weakness, then gave you strength
after weakness, then after strength gave (you) weakness and gray hair. He
creates what He wills. And He is the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful." (30:54)
This parable indicates the near demise of this life and the imminent end of
it, while in contrast, the Hereafter is surely coming. Those who hear this
parable should, therefore, be aware of the significance of the Hereafter and
feel eagerness in the goodness that it contains,
"But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment, and (there is) forgiveness
from Allah and (His) pleasure. And the life of this world is only a deceiving
enjoyment."
Meaning, surely, the Hereafter that will certainly come contains two things
either severe punishment or forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure.
Allah the Exalted said,
"And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment."
Meaning, this life is only a form of enjoyment that deceives those who
incline to it. Surely, those who recline to this life will admire it and feel
that it is dear to them, so much so, that they might think that this is the
only life, no life or dwelling after it. Yet, in reality, this life is
insignificant as compared to the Hereafter.
Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah,
sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said,
"Paradise is nearer to any of you than the strap of his shoe, and so is the
(Hell) Fire." [Ahmad 1:387]
Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith through the narration of Ath-Thawri [Fath
al-Bari 11:328].
This Hadith indicates the close proximity of both good and evil in relation to
mankind. If this is the case, then this is the reason Allah the Exalted
encouraged mankind to rush to perform acts of righteousness and obedience and
to avoid the prohibitions. By doing so, their sins and errors will be
forgiven and they will acquire rewards and an exalted status.
Allah the Exalted said,
"Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord, and
Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heaven and the earth."
Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah,
"And march forth in the way (to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise
as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who have Taqwa."
(3:133)
Allah said here,
"prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is the
grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He is pleased with. And Allah is the
Owner of the great bounty."
Meaning, "This, that Allah has qualified them for, is all a part of His
favor, bounty and compassion." We mentioned a Hadith collected in the Sahih
in which....
The poor emigrants said to the Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, "O
Allah's Messenger! The wealthy people will get higher grades and permanent
enjoyment."
He (SAW) asked, "Why is that?"
They said, "They pray like us and fast as we do. However, they give in
charity, whereas we cannot do that, and they free servants, whereas we cannot
afford it."
The Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said,
"Shall I tell you of a good deed that, if you acted upon, you would catch up
with those who have surpassed you? None would overtake you and be better than
you, except those who might do the same. Say, "Glorious is Allah," Allah is
Most Great", and "Praise be to Allah", thirty three times each after every
prayer."
They later came back and said, "Our wealthy brethren heard what we did and
they started doing the same."
Allah's Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said,
"This is the favor that He gives to whom He wills."
[Muslim 1:416]
Source: Islam.com
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How perfect You are O Allah, and I praise You. I bear witness that none has the
right to be worshipped except You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in
repentance.
'Our Lord, give us good in this world, and good in the hereafter, and safeguard
us from the punishment of the Fire.'
May Allah bless our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and His family, and His
noble companions, and all those who follow Him in truth.
(Aameen)
With kind n humble regards,
Umme Safoora
Click to join Precious_Teachings_Of_Islam
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