يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ 9
Translations
O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from the remembrance of Allāh. And whoever does that - then those are the losers.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu la tulhikum amwalukum wa la awladukum an dhikri Allah wa man yafal dhalika fa-ula'ika humu al-khasiroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns the believers not to allow their wealth and children to distract them from the remembrance of Allah (dhikr). Ibn Kathir explains that while earning livelihood and caring for family are permissible, they must never become obstacles to fulfilling religious obligations and maintaining connection with Allah. Those who prioritize material and familial concerns over their relationship with the Divine are identified as the true losers (al-khasiroon), as they forfeit eternal success for temporary worldly gains.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Munafiqun, which addresses the hypocrites of Medina. The broader context condemns those who claim faith but allow worldly preoccupations to override their spiritual commitments. This verse specifically targets a common human weakness: the tendency to become consumed by earning and family obligations at the expense of remembering Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Sunan Ibn Majah), emphasizing balance. Additionally, 'Remember Allah much, and avoid excessive speech, for excessive speech without remembrance of Allah hardens the heart' (Sunan Ibn Majah) relates to the necessity of dhikr.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must maintain vigilance against allowing legitimate worldly pursuits—wealth and family—from becoming distractions that eclipse their spiritual obligations and connection to Allah. Real success (falah) lies in harmonizing worldly responsibilities with consistent remembrance of the Divine, recognizing that those who invert this priority have truly lost everything of eternal value.