وَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ 85
Translations
And let not their wealth and their children impress you. Allāh only intends to punish them through them in this world and that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers.
Transliteration
Wa lā tu'jibka amwāluhum wa awlāduhum; innamā yurīdu Allāhu an yu'aḏḏibahum bihā fī ad-dunyā wa tazhaqā anfusuhum wa hum kāfirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns the Prophet (peace be upon him) not to be deceived or impressed by the wealth and children of the hypocrites and disbelievers, as these worldly possessions are merely instruments of punishment from Allah in this life. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Allah uses their riches and offspring as means to increase them in sin and heedlessness, ultimately leading to their spiritual death while still living as disbelievers. The phrase 'tazhaqu anfusuhum' (their souls depart) refers to their deaths while in a state of kufr (disbelief), condemning them eternally.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah At-Tawbah's discussion of the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) of Madinah, particularly those who refused to participate in the Tabuk expedition. The broader context addresses the deception of wealth and status as indicators of divine favor, correcting the jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic) notion that material prosperity equals blessing.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better with your Lord in reward and better in hope' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46, referenced contextually in Tirmidhi and other collections). Additionally, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet warned against being deceived by the apparent success of the wicked in this world.
Themes
Key Lesson
Material wealth and children, while seemingly good, should never be mistaken for divine approval or spiritual success—those who use these blessings in disobedience to Allah ultimately suffer spiritual ruin. Believers should cultivate detachment from worldly possessions as measures of worth and focus instead on righteous deeds and sincere faith.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ جَـٰهِدِ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱغْلُظْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
O Prophet, fight against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination.
وَعَلَى ٱلثَّلَـٰثَةِ ٱلَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَن لَّا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّآ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
And [He also forgave] the three who were left alone [i.e., boycotted, regretting their error] to the point that the earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness and their souls confined [i.e., anguished] them and they were certain that there is no refuge from Allāh except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, Allāh is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.
لَـٰكِنِ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتُ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
But the Messenger and those who believed with him fought with their wealth and their lives. Those will have [all that is] good and it is those who are the successful.
فَلْيَضْحَكُوا۟ قَلِيلًا وَلْيَبْكُوا۟ كَثِيرًا جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
So let them laugh a little and [then] weep much as recompense for what they used to earn.