يَعْلَمُونَ ظَـٰهِرًا مِّنَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ غَـٰفِلُونَ 7
Translations
They know what is apparent of the worldly life, but they, of the Hereafter, are unaware.
Transliteration
Ya'lamūna ẓāhiran min al-ḥayāt ad-dunyā wa-hum 'an al-ākhirah hum ghāfilūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who are preoccupied with the superficial aspects of worldly life—its material gains, pleasures, and visible concerns—while remaining heedless and unmindful of the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'ẓāhir' (apparent/external) refers to the transient aspects of this world, while their neglect of the Hereafter represents a profound spiritual blindness. Al-Qurtubi notes this describes those whose knowledge and concern are limited to worldly affairs without contemplating the eternal consequences of their actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ar-Rum, a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists of Mecca and their priorities. The broader context of the surah contrasts the signs of Allah's creation and power with human heedlessness. This specific ayah is part of a passage describing the characteristics of those who ignore divine guidance and remain absorbed in materialistic pursuits.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who have the best character' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3662). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever loves his worldly life will lose his religion, and whoever loves his religion will lose his worldly life' (Sunan Ibn Majah) relates thematically to the imbalance described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are urged to maintain balance between worldly responsibilities and spiritual development, ensuring that pursuit of material sustenance does not obscure awareness of eternal accountability. This ayah invites self-reflection: are we cognizant of both the visible world and the invisible realities of the Hereafter in our daily decisions?
Related Ayahs
بِنَصْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ يَنصُرُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
In the victory of Allāh. He gives victory to whom He wills, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.
الٓمٓ
Alif, Lām, Meem.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَهُمْ فِى رَوْضَةٍ يُحْبَرُونَ
And as for those who had believed and done righteous deeds, they will be in a garden [of Paradise], delighted.
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَن يُرْسِلَ ٱلرِّيَاحَ مُبَشِّرَٰتٍ وَلِيُذِيقَكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَلِتَجْرِىَ ٱلْفُلْكُ بِأَمْرِهِۦ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And of His signs is that He sends the winds as bringers of good tidings and to let you taste His mercy [i.e., rain] and so the ships may sail at His command and so you may seek of His bounty, and perhaps you will be grateful.