مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ نَزِدْ لَهُۥ فِى حَرْثِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ ٱلدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِۦ مِنْهَا وَمَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِن نَّصِيبٍ 20
Translations
Whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter - We increase for him in his harvest [i.e., reward]. And whoever desires the harvest [i.e., benefits] of this world - We give him thereof, but there is not for him in the Hereafter any share.
Transliteration
Man kana yurīdu hartha al-ākhirati nazid lahu fī harthih wa man kana yurīdu hartha ad-dunyā nu'tih minḥā wa mā lahu fī al-ākhirati min naṣīb
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contrasts two intentions and their corresponding outcomes: whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter—meaning righteous deeds and eternal reward—Allah will increase for them in their spiritual cultivation and grant them abundant reward; while whoever desires only the worldly harvest will receive their share of worldly provision but will have no portion in the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that the 'increase' (nazid) for the believers refers to both material blessings combined with spiritual elevation, whereas those seeking only worldly gains forfeit eternal recompense entirely.
Revelation Context
Surah Ash-Shuraa is a Meccan surah revealed during a period when Muslims faced intense opposition. This ayah appears within a broader context discussing divine wisdom and justice in distributing provision. It speaks to believers facing material hardship, encouraging them to prioritize the Hereafter while maintaining trust in Allah's provision, addressing the spiritual struggle of early Muslims choosing faith over worldly prosperity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever makes the Hereafter his goal, Allah will suffice him in his worldly affairs' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith '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) relates thematically to prioritizing spiritual harvest over mere material accumulation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that our intentions determine our destiny—those who sincerely orient their efforts toward pleasing Allah and the Hereafter will receive both divine increase in this life and eternal reward, while the pursuit of worldly wealth at the expense of spirituality leaves one impoverished in the afterlife. For modern believers, this is a reminder to align daily intentions and actions toward lasting, eternal values rather than temporary material gains.