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
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ ۚ وَلَهُ ٱلْمَثَلُ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
And it is He who begins creation; then He repeats it, and that is [even] easier for Him. To Him belongs the highest description [i.e., attribute] in the heavens and earth. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
فِى بِضْعِ سِنِينَ ۗ لِلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْرُ مِن قَبْلُ وَمِنۢ بَعْدُ ۚ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Within three to nine years. To Allāh belongs the command [i.e., decree] before and after. And that day the believers will rejoice
أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَثَارُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَآ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا وَجَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
Have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? They were greater than them in power, and they plowed [or excavated] the earth and built it up more than they [i.e., the Makkans] have built it up, and their messengers came to them with clear evidences. And Allāh would not ever have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves.
فَيَوْمَئِذٍ لَّا يَنفَعُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُسْتَعْتَبُونَ
So that Day, their excuse will not benefit those who wronged, nor will they be asked to appease [Allāh].