Author: Nasratullah Esmati
The World in the Mirror of Truth (Part 6)
7. Boasting about Wealth and Children
«أَلهَىٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ (1) حَتَّىٰ زُرتُمُ ٱلمَقَابِرَ (2) كَلَّا سَوفَ تَعلَمُونَ (3) ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَوفَ تَعلَمُونَ (4) كَلَّا لَو تَعلَمُونَ عِلمَ ٱليَقِينِ (5) »;[1] Translation: (Exaggeration [and boasting about wealth and children] occupied you until you [died and] went to the graves. Never boast and exaggerate; you will soon know. Yes! It is not as you think. You will soon know. Never, if you knew the truth of the matter with certainty and without any doubt, you would not have been so heedless.)
8. Enjoying the World
وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَمَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتُهَا ۚ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ”2″ The author of Tafsir Ma’arif al-Quran says: This verse states that if hardship befalls you because of your faith, it will be for only a few days. Similarly, wealth, property, and pleasures of this world are also for only a few days and do not last forever. Likewise, the hardships of this world are temporary and will soon end; therefore, the wise person should consider both comfort and hardships that endure. Enduring hardship for a few days in order to attain eternal blessings and comfort is a wise choice.[3]
9. The heedless are only satisfied with the world:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا وَرَضُوا بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱطْمَأَنُّوا بِهَا وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا غَـٰفِلُونَ”;4 ” Translation: That is, those who do not expect to meet Us in the Hereafter to receive their reward and punishment are content with the life of this world compared to the Hereafter.
Consequently, they remain heedless of the Hereafter. Those who are enamored with the pleasures of this world, attached to its comforts, and heedless of the signs of Allah—those who do not reflect on them—will find their abode in the fire of Hell. This punishment is a fitting reward for the sins they committed in this world and their disbelief in Allah, the Prophet, and the Day of Judgement.[5]
10. The pleasures of this world are fleeting:
«قُلْ مَتَـٰعُ ٱلدُّنْيَا قَلِيلٌ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ»;[6] (Say: The enjoyment of this worldly life is little, and the Hereafter is better for the righteous.)
The enjoyment of this worldly life is fleeting and insignificant compared to the Hereafter. In other words, when compared to the Hereafter, this worldly life is “nothing but a little” that has no value or importance at all. It is stated in noble hadith: “The worldly life compared to the Hereafter is like one of you putting his finger (while pointing to his index finger) in the sea and then seeing how much water comes out with it!” [7]
Continues…
[1]. Al-Takasur: 1-5.
[2]. Al-Qasas: 60.
[3]. Ma’arif al-Quran: 7/283.
[4]. Yunus: 7.
[5]. Tafsir al-Munir: 11/125.
[6]. At-Tawbah: 38.
[7]. Musnad Ahmad: 4/228-229.
