Surah Hadid ayat 20 Tafsir Quran 57:20

﴿اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَامًا ۖ وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٌ ۚ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ﴾
[ الحديد: 20]

57:20 Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.

Know that the life of this world is merely play and diversion and glitter the frequent adornment of oneself and mutual vainglory in respect of wealth and children that is preoccupation with such things — but as for acts of obedience and incentives thereto these are the concerns of the Hereafter; as the likeness of that is to say it in the manner in which you admire it and in the manner in which it will disappear is as the likeness of rain whose vegetation which results from this rain the disbelievers the sowers admire; but then it withers it becomes dried-up and you see it turn yellow then it becomes chaff scatters vanishing with the winds. And in the Hereafter there is a severe chastisement for those who prefer this world to it and forgiveness from God and beatitude for those who have not preferred this world to it; and the life of this world that is to say the comfort enjoyed in it is but the comfort of delusion.

You -people- had better know that life here is hut an illusive and rapid change of feeling, fancy and thought and an amusement and a display of splendour, boastfulness and vainglory and treasuring of wealth and multiplication in progeny; all but regressing naturally to nothingness, like man who goes from childhood to youthfulness to maturity, then to wrinkles characteristic of age, then to weakness and infirmity, then he goes through the gates of death. A succession of events similar to a land that has been tilled and cultivated by those who care only for the material harvest and counsel deaf to spiritual harvest. Then it rained, and the crops grew delightfully well and to their hearts desire. Then suddenly the crops lost their bloom and natural colour, turned yellow then dried up, shriveled and decayed. Likewise, in the Hereafter there is a condign punishment, but also forgiveness and fulfillment of desire; and life here is but an animate existence affording pleasure deceiving those with foolish credulous ambition and vain employment of time

This Life of this World is Fleeting Enjoyment Allah the Exalted degrades the significance of this life and belittles it by saying, أَنَّمَا الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى الاٌّمْوَلِ وَالاٌّوْلْـدِ ( 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, زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَتِ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَـطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالأَنْعَـمِ وَالْحَرْثِ ذَلِكَ مَتَـعُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَأَبِ ( 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, كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ ( 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, وَهُوَ الَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُواْ ( And He it is Who sends down the Ghayth (rain ) after they have despaired.)( 42:28 ) Allah's statement, أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ( 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, ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرّاً ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَاماً ( 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, اللَّهُ الَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ مِّن ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفاً وَشَيْبَةً يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْقَدِيرُ ( Allah is He Who created you in (a state of ) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave ( you ) weakness and grey 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, وَفِى الاٌّخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَنٌ وَمَا الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَآ إِلاَّ مَتَـعُ الْغُرُورِ ( 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, وَما الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَتَـعُ الْغُرُورِ ( 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 ﷺ said,
«لَلْجَنَّةُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مِنْ شِرَاكِ نَعْلِهِ، وَالنَّارُ مِثْلُ ذلِك»
( Paradise is nearer to any of you than the strap on his shoe, and so is the (Hell ) Fire.) Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith through the narration of Ath-Thawri.
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, سَابِقُواْ إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَآءِ وَالاٌّرْضِ ( 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, وَسَارِعُواْ إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَـوَتُ وَالاٌّرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ( 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, أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ ( 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 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 ﷺ, "O Allah's Messenger! The wealthy people will get higher grades and permanent enjoyment." He asked,
«وَمَا ذَاكَ؟»
( 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 that free servants, whereas we cannot afford it." The Prophet said,
«أَفَلَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوهُ سَبَقْتُمْ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ، وَلَا يَكُونُ أَحَدٌ أَفْضَلَ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ صَنَعَ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعْتُمْ: تُسَبِّحُونَ وَتُكَبِّرُونَ وَتُحَمِّدُونَ دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِين»
( 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 ﷺ said,
«ذلِكَ فَضْلُ اللهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاء»
This is the favor of Allah that He gives to whom He wills.)

(57:20) Know well that the life of this world is merely sport and diversion and adornment and an object of your boasting with one another, and a rivalry in the multiplication of riches and children. Its likeness is that of rain: when it produces vegetation it delights the tillers. But then it withers and you see it turn yellow, and then it crumbles away. In the Hereafter there is (either) grievous chastisement (or) forgiveness from Allah and (His) good pleasure. The life of this world is nothing but delusion. *36

Know that the life of this world meaning

*36) To understand this theme fully one should keep the following verses of the Qur'an in mind: Imran; 14- 15, Yunus: 24-25, ibrahim: 18, AI-Kahf: 45-46, An-Nur: 39.
In aII those verses the truth that has been impressed on the mind is: The life of this world is a temporary life: its spring as well as its autumn is temporary, Them is much here to allure man.
but this, in fact, consists of base and insignificant things which man because of his shallowness of mind regards as great and splendid and is deluded into thinking that in attaining them lies supreme success, The truth however is that the highest benefits and means of pleasure and enjoyment that one can possibly attain in the world, arc indeed bast and insignificant and confined to a few years of temporary life, and can be destroyed by just one turn of fate.
Contrary to this, the lift hereafter is a splendid and eternal life: its benefits are great and permanent and its losses too are great and permanent.
The one who attains Allah's forgiveness and His goodwill there, will indeed have attained the everlasting bliss beside which the whole wealth of the world and its kingdom become pale and insignificant.
And the one who is seized in God's torment there, will come to know that he had made a bad bargain even if he had attained aII that he regarded as great and splendid in the world.

 

This Life of this World is Fleeting Enjoyment Allah the Exalted degrades the significance of this life and belittles it by saying, أَنَّمَا الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى الاٌّمْوَلِ وَالاٌّوْلْـدِ ( 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, زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَتِ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَـطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالأَنْعَـمِ وَالْحَرْثِ ذَلِكَ مَتَـعُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَأَبِ ( 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, كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ ( 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, وَهُوَ الَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُواْ ( And He it is Who sends down the Ghayth (rain ) after they have despaired.)( 42:28 ) Allah's statement, أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ( 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, ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرّاً ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَاماً ( 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, اللَّهُ الَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ مِّن ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفاً وَشَيْبَةً يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْقَدِيرُ ( Allah is He Who created you in (a state of ) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave ( you ) weakness and grey 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, وَفِى الاٌّخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَنٌ وَمَا الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَآ إِلاَّ مَتَـعُ الْغُرُورِ ( 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, وَما الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَتَـعُ الْغُرُورِ ( 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 ﷺ said, «لَلْجَنَّةُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مِنْ شِرَاكِ نَعْلِهِ، وَالنَّارُ مِثْلُ ذلِك» ( Paradise is nearer to any of you than the strap on his shoe, and so is the (Hell ) Fire.) Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith through the narration of Ath-Thawri.
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, سَابِقُواْ إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَآءِ وَالاٌّرْضِ ( 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, وَسَارِعُواْ إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَـوَتُ وَالاٌّرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ( 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, أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ ( 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 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 ﷺ, "O Allah's Messenger! The wealthy people will get higher grades and permanent enjoyment." He asked, «وَمَا ذَاكَ؟» ( 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 that free servants, whereas we cannot afford it." The Prophet said, «أَفَلَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوهُ سَبَقْتُمْ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ، وَلَا يَكُونُ أَحَدٌ أَفْضَلَ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ صَنَعَ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعْتُمْ: تُسَبِّحُونَ وَتُكَبِّرُونَ وَتُحَمِّدُونَ دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِين» ( 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 ﷺ said, «ذلِكَ فَضْلُ اللهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاء» This is the favor of Allah that He gives to whom He wills.)

( Know that the life of this world ) that which is in the life of this world ( is only play ) exultation, ( and idle talk ) falsehood, ( and pageantry ) an appearance, ( and boasting among you ) regarding status and lineage, ( and rivalry about wealth and children ) which will vanish and not last; ( as the likeness of vegetation after rain, whereof the growth is pleasing to the husbandman, but afterward it drieth up and thou seest it turning yellow ) after having been green ( then it becometh straw ) in the same vein, the life of the world will not last just as this vegetation did not. ( And in the Hereafter there is grievous punishment ) for he who abstains from obeying Allah and withholds the right of Allah, ( and (also ) forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure) in the Hereafter, for he who obeys Allah and fulfils Allah’s right over his wealth, ( whereas the life of the world ) i.e. concerning its lastingness and evanescence ( is but matter of illusion ) like the illusion surrounding the utilities of the house such as plates and bowls.

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, as the likeness of vegetation after rain, 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 (for the disbelievers, evil-doers), and (there is) Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers, good-doers), whereas the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.

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