Surah Kahf ayat 45 Tafsir Quran 18:45

﴿وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا﴾
[ الكهف: 45]

18:45 And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability.

And strike draw for them your people the similitude of the life of this world mathala’l-hayāti’l-dunyā constitutes the first direct object as water ka-mā’in the second direct object which We send down out from the heaven and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it the vegetation multiplies by the sending down of the water; or it is that the water mixes with the vegetation such that it is nourished and flourishes; and it then becomes the vegetation becomes chaff dried up its various parts broken up in fragments scattered strewn and dispersed by the winds which then blow it away. The import is the life of this world is likened to flourishing vegetation which then becomes dry is broken up and scattered by the winds a variant reading for riyāh ‘winds’ has rīh. And God is Omnipotent Powerful over all things.

Express to them O Muhammad the likeness of life here, it stands similitude exact of a cycle in which a certain round of events or phenomena is completed, thus: We send down rain water from the floor of the vault of heaven; it mingles with the product of the soil which absorbs it and thrives thereby, then it eventually withers and dries up and gets dispersed with the wind, and Allah has always been Qadirun (Omnipotent) capable of doing all things

The Parable of the Worldly Life Allah says: وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم ( And mention ) O Muhammad, to the people, مَثَلُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ( the parable of the worldly life ), its transient nature and how it will eventually cease and come to an end. كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الاٌّرْضِ ( it is like the water which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, ) It mingles with the seeds that are in the earth, so they grow and become good, producing bright, fresh flowers, then after that, فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا ( it becomes dry and broken pieces, ) withered up, تَذْرُوهُ الرِّياحُ ( which the winds scatter. ) tossing them about right and left. وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا ( And Allah is able to do everything ) He has the power to do this and that.
In the Qur'an Allah often gives parables like this of the life of this world, as He says in Surah Yunus, إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الاٌّرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ وَالاٌّنْعَـمُ ( The parable of the worldly life is but that of water which We send down from the sky so by it arises the intermingled produce of the earth of which men and cattle eat.
.. ) 10:24 and in Surat Az-Zumar: أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَكَهُ يَنَابِيعَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِ زَرْعاً مُّخْتَلِفاً أَلْوَانُهُ s( See you not that Allah sends down water from the sky, and causes it to penetrate the earth, then out from it comes crops of different colors. ) 39:21 and in Surat Al-Hadid: اعْلَمُواْ أَنَّمَا الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى الاٌّمْوَلِ وَالاٌّوْلْـدِ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ( 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 the parable of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller...) 57:20 and in the Sahih Hadith:
«الدُّنْيَا حُلْوَةٌ خَضِرَة»
( This world is sweet and green. ) Between Wealth and Good Deeds الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ( Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. ) This is like the Ayah: زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَتِ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَـطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ ( Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, vaulted hoards of gold... ) 3:14.
Allah says: إِنَّمَآ أَمْوَلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ( Your wealth and your children are only a trial, whereas Allah! With Him is a great reward (Paradise ).) 64:15 turning towards Allah and worshipping Him is better for you than keeping busy with them, and accumulating wealth for them and going to extremes in feeling pity and compassion for them.
Allah says: وَالْبَـقِيَاتُ الصَّـلِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلاً ( But the good righteous deeds that last, are better with your Lord for reward and better for hope. ) Ibn `Abbas, Sa`id bin Jubayr and others among the Salaf said that the good righteous deeds that last are the five daily prayers.
`Ata' bin Abi Rabah and Sa`id bin Jubayr narrated from Ibn `Abbas, "The good righteous deeds that last are `Subhan Allah ( glory be to Allah )', `Al-Hamdu Lillah ( praise be to Allah )', `La ilaha illallah ( there is none worthy of worship except Allah )', and `Allahu Akbar ( Allah is Most Great ).'" The Commander of the faithful, `Uthman bin `Affan was questioned, "Which are the good righteous deeds that last" He replied, "They are: `La ilaha illallah, Subhan Allah, Al-Hamdu Lillah, Allahu Akbar and La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah hil-`Aliyil-`Azim ( there is no strength and no power except with Allah the Exalted, the Almighty )."' This was recorded by Imam Ahmad.
Imam Ahmad also recorded from a freed slave of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he said:
«بَخٍ بَخٍ لِخَمْسٍ مَا أَثْقَلَهُنَّ فِي الْمِيزَانِ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ للهِ، وَالْوَلَدُ الصَّالِحُ يُتَوَفَّى فَيَحْتَسِبُهُ وَالِدُهُ وَقَالَ: بَخٍ بَخٍ لِخَمْسٍ مَنْ لَقِيَ اللهَ مُسْتَيْقِنًا بِهِنَّ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ: يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ، وَبِالْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ، وَبِالْبَعْثِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَبِالْحِسَاب»
( Well done! Well done for five things! (How heavy they will weigh in the balance! "La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Subhan Allah, and Al-Hamdu Lillah," and a righteous son who dies and his parents seek the reward of Allah. ) And he said: ( Well done! Well done for five things! Whoever meets Allah believing in them, he will enter Paradise; if he believes in Allah, the Last Day, Paradise and Hell, resurrection after death, and the Reckoning ). وَالْبَـقِيَاتُ الصَّـلِحَاتُ ( the good righteous deeds that last, ) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "This is the celebration of the remembrance of Allah, saying `La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Subhan Allah, Al-Hamdu Lillah, Tabarak Allah, La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, Astaghfirallah, Sallallahu `ala Rasul-Allah', and fasting, prayer, Hajj, Sadaqah ( charity ), freeing slaves, Jihad, maintaining ties of kinship, and all other good deeds.
These are the righteous good deeds that last, which will remain in Paradise for those who do them for as long as heaven and earth remain." Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas: "They are good words." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "They are all righteous deeds." This was also the view chosen by Ibn Jarir, may Allah have mercy on him.

(18:45) And O Prophet, bring home to them the reality of this worldly life by a parable. It is like the vegetation of the earth that flourished luxuriantly when We sent down rain water from the sky, but afterwards the same vegetation was turned into chaff, which is blown away by the wind: Allah has power over everything. *41

And present to them the example of meaning

*41) " Allah has power over everything ": He gives life and also death: He causes the rise and the downfall: It is by His conunand that the seasons change.
Therefore, O disbelievers, if you are enjoying prosperity today, you should be under no delusion that this condition will remain for ever.
That God, by Whose conunand these things have been bestowed on you, has the power to snatch away all this by another conunand.

 

The Parable of the Worldly Life Allah says: وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم ( And mention ) O Muhammad, to the people, مَثَلُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ( the parable of the worldly life ), its transient nature and how it will eventually cease and come to an end. كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الاٌّرْضِ ( it is like the water which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, ) It mingles with the seeds that are in the earth, so they grow and become good, producing bright, fresh flowers, then after that, فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا ( it becomes dry and broken pieces, ) withered up, تَذْرُوهُ الرِّياحُ ( which the winds scatter. ) tossing them about right and left. وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا ( And Allah is able to do everything ) He has the power to do this and that.
In the Qur'an Allah often gives parables like this of the life of this world, as He says in Surah Yunus, إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الاٌّرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ وَالاٌّنْعَـمُ ( The parable of the worldly life is but that of water which We send down from the sky so by it arises the intermingled produce of the earth of which men and cattle eat.
.. ) 10:24 and in Surat Az-Zumar: أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَكَهُ يَنَابِيعَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِ زَرْعاً مُّخْتَلِفاً أَلْوَانُهُ s( See you not that Allah sends down water from the sky, and causes it to penetrate the earth, then out from it comes crops of different colors. ) 39:21 and in Surat Al-Hadid: اعْلَمُواْ أَنَّمَا الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى الاٌّمْوَلِ وَالاٌّوْلْـدِ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ ( 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 the parable of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller...) 57:20 and in the Sahih Hadith: «الدُّنْيَا حُلْوَةٌ خَضِرَة» ( This world is sweet and green. ) Between Wealth and Good Deeds الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ( Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. ) This is like the Ayah: زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَتِ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَـطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ ( Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, vaulted hoards of gold... ) 3:14.
Allah says: إِنَّمَآ أَمْوَلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ( Your wealth and your children are only a trial, whereas Allah! With Him is a great reward (Paradise ).) 64:15 turning towards Allah and worshipping Him is better for you than keeping busy with them, and accumulating wealth for them and going to extremes in feeling pity and compassion for them.
Allah says: وَالْبَـقِيَاتُ الصَّـلِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلاً ( But the good righteous deeds that last, are better with your Lord for reward and better for hope. ) Ibn `Abbas, Sa`id bin Jubayr and others among the Salaf said that the good righteous deeds that last are the five daily prayers.
`Ata' bin Abi Rabah and Sa`id bin Jubayr narrated from Ibn `Abbas, "The good righteous deeds that last are `Subhan Allah ( glory be to Allah )', `Al-Hamdu Lillah ( praise be to Allah )', `La ilaha illallah ( there is none worthy of worship except Allah )', and `Allahu Akbar ( Allah is Most Great ).'" The Commander of the faithful, `Uthman bin `Affan was questioned, "Which are the good righteous deeds that last" He replied, "They are: `La ilaha illallah, Subhan Allah, Al-Hamdu Lillah, Allahu Akbar and La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah hil-`Aliyil-`Azim ( there is no strength and no power except with Allah the Exalted, the Almighty )."' This was recorded by Imam Ahmad.
Imam Ahmad also recorded from a freed slave of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he said: «بَخٍ بَخٍ لِخَمْسٍ مَا أَثْقَلَهُنَّ فِي الْمِيزَانِ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ للهِ، وَالْوَلَدُ الصَّالِحُ يُتَوَفَّى فَيَحْتَسِبُهُ وَالِدُهُ وَقَالَ: بَخٍ بَخٍ لِخَمْسٍ مَنْ لَقِيَ اللهَ مُسْتَيْقِنًا بِهِنَّ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ: يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ، وَبِالْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ، وَبِالْبَعْثِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَبِالْحِسَاب» ( Well done! Well done for five things! (How heavy they will weigh in the balance! "La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Subhan Allah, and Al-Hamdu Lillah," and a righteous son who dies and his parents seek the reward of Allah. ) And he said: ( Well done! Well done for five things! Whoever meets Allah believing in them, he will enter Paradise; if he believes in Allah, the Last Day, Paradise and Hell, resurrection after death, and the Reckoning ). وَالْبَـقِيَاتُ الصَّـلِحَاتُ ( the good righteous deeds that last, ) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "This is the celebration of the remembrance of Allah, saying `La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Subhan Allah, Al-Hamdu Lillah, Tabarak Allah, La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, Astaghfirallah, Sallallahu `ala Rasul-Allah', and fasting, prayer, Hajj, Sadaqah ( charity ), freeing slaves, Jihad, maintaining ties of kinship, and all other good deeds.
These are the righteous good deeds that last, which will remain in Paradise for those who do them for as long as heaven and earth remain." Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas: "They are good words." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "They are all righteous deeds." This was also the view chosen by Ibn Jarir, may Allah have mercy on him.

( And coin for them ) explain to the people of Mecca ( the similitude of the life of the world ) in its permanence and evanescence ( as water ) as rain ( which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingleth with it ) the water mixes with the vegetation of the earth ( and then becometh dry twigs that the winds scatter ) such that nothing remains of it. Likewise, the life of this world will vanish and nothing of its adornment will remain. ( Allah is Able to do all things ) He is Able to make the life of this world vanish and the Hereafter subsist.

And put forward to them the example of the life of this world, it is like the water (rain) which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green. But (later) it becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter. And Allah is Able to do everything.

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