وَلَتَجِدَنَّهُمْ أَحْرَصَ ٱلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ حَيَوٰةٍ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ ۚ يَوَدُّ أَحَدُهُمْ لَوْ يُعَمَّرُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمُزَحْزِحِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ أَن يُعَمَّرَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ 96
Translations
And you will surely find them the most greedy of people for life - [even] more than those who associate others with Allāh. One of them wishes that he could be granted life a thousand years, but it would not remove him in the least from the [coming] punishment that he should be granted life. And Allāh is Seeing of what they do.
Transliteration
Wa-latajidannahum ahras-al-nasi ala hayatin wa min-alladhina ashrakou. Yawaddu ahaduhum law yu'ammaru alfa sanatin wa ma huwa bimuzhzihuhu min-al-adhabi an yu'ammara. Wa-Allahu baseerun bima ya'maloun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the Children of Israel (and those like them) are among the most eager people for worldly life, even more so than polytheists, wishing to live a thousand years. However, prolonged life will not save them from punishment if they persist in their disbelief and rejection of truth. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this reflects their preoccupation with material existence and their denial of the afterlife, emphasizing that quantity of years means nothing without righteousness.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader passage (2:88-96) addressing the rejection of the Quran by some Jews of Medina. It follows their denial of the Prophet Muhammad and their claims about the Torah, illustrating their misplaced priorities in clinging to worldly life rather than accepting divine guidance. The context emphasizes their spiritual blindness despite their knowledge of scripture.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The love of this worldly life and the hatred of death changes the nature of people' (related to the theme in various hadith collections). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about how the Day of Judgment will not come until people are satisfied with this life, reflecting the spiritual complacency this ayah warns against.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that attachment to worldly life at the expense of spiritual purpose is ultimately futile and self-deceptive. Modern readers should reflect on whether their pursuits prioritize material success and longevity over moral integrity and preparation for the eternal life to come.
Related Ayahs
ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُمْتَرِينَ
The truth is from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.
لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُوا۟ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَـٰتٍ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عِندَ ٱلْمَشْعَرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۖ وَٱذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord [during ḥajj]. But when you depart from ʿArafāt, remember Allāh at al-Mashʿar al-Ḥarām. And remember Him, as He has guided you, for indeed, you were before that among those astray.
لِّلَّذِينَ يُؤْلُونَ مِن نِّسَآئِهِمْ تَرَبُّصُ أَرْبَعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ ۖ فَإِن فَآءُو فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
For those who swear not to have sexual relations with their wives is a waiting time of four months, but if they return [to normal relations] - then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
أَمْ تَقُولُونَ إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطَ كَانُوا۟ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـٰرَىٰ ۗ قُلْ ءَأَنتُمْ أَعْلَمُ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن كَتَمَ شَهَـٰدَةً عِندَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Or do you say that Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants were Jews or Christians? Say, "Are you more knowing or is Allāh?" And who is more unjust than one who conceals a testimony he has from Allāh? And Allāh is not unaware of what you do.