Fama ooteetum min shay-in famataAAu alhayati addunya wama AAinda Allahi khayrun waabqa (surah shura: 36)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(42:36) That which has been given to you is only the wherewithal of the transient life of this world. *55 But that which is with Allah is better and more enduring *56 for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord; *57

Famaa ooteetum min shai`in famataa`ul hayaatid dunyaa wa maa `indal laahi khairunw wa abqaa lillazeena aamanoo wa `alaa Rabbihim yatawakkaloon

*55) That is, "It is not a thing at which tnan should exult Whatever worldly wealth a person has in his possession, he has it only for a short time. He uses it for a few years and then leaves the world empty-handed. Then, although the amount of the wealth may be very high in the ledgers, practically only a fraction of it is used by the man himself. To exult at such wealth does not behove a man who understands the truth about himself, about his wealth and this world itself."
*56) That is, that wealth is far more superior as regards its nature and quality; and is also eternal and everlasting.
*57) Here, trust (tawakkul) in Allah has been regarded as an inevitable demand of the faith and a necessary characteristic for success in the Hereafter. Tawakkul means: (I) That man should have full confidence in the guidance of Allah, and should understand that the knowledge of the truth, the principles of morality, the bounds of the lawful and the unlawful, and the rules and regulations of passing lift in the world, that Allah had enjoined, are based on the truth and in following them alone lies man's good and well being; and (2) that man should not place reliance on his own powers and abilities, means and resources, plans and schemes and the help of others than Allah, but he should keep deeply impressed in his mind the fact that his success in every thing, here and in the Hereafter, actually depends on the help and succour of Allah, and that he can become worthy of Allah's help and succour only if he works with the object of winning His approval, within the bounds prescribed by Him; (3) that man should have complete faith in the promises that Allah has made with those who would adopt the way of faith andrighteousness and work in the cause of the truth instead of falsehood, and having faith in the same promises would discard aII those benefits, gains and pleasures that may seem to accrue from following the way of falsehood, and endure all those losses, hardships and deprivations that may become his lot on account of following the truth steadfastly. From this explanation of the meaning of tawakkul it becomes obvious how deeply it is related with the faith, and why those wonderful results that have been promised to the believers who practice tawakkul. cannot be obtained from the mere empty affirmation of the faith.