وَزُخْرُفًا ۚ وَإِن كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ 35
Translations
And gold ornament. But all that is not but the enjoyment of worldly life. And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous.
Transliteration
Wa zukhrufan, wa in kulla dhalika lamma mata'u al-hayati ad-dunya, wa al-akhiratu 'inda rabbika lil-muttaqin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the discussion about worldly adornments and luxuries by emphasizing their temporary nature. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this verse as a clear statement that all material ornaments and embellishments—whether in homes, possessions, or status—are merely fleeting pleasures of this life, while the eternal reward of the Hereafter is reserved exclusively for those who possess taqwa (God-consciousness and piety). The contrast between the transient dunya and the permanent akhirah serves as a powerful reminder to redirect priorities toward spiritual achievement rather than material accumulation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within a Meccan surah addressing polytheists who were captivated by worldly wealth and status. The broader context discusses how disbelievers attributed daughters to Allah and adorned idols with gold, using this as a springboard to remind humanity that such material preoccupations distract from the true purpose of life and eternal accountability.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The world is cursed, and all that is in it is cursed, except the remembrance of Allah and what helps toward it, and a knowledgeable scholar and a learning student.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also relevant: 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better with your Lord.' (Quran 18:46, related in themes).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no amount of material wealth or worldly adornment should become our ultimate goal; instead, believers must cultivate taqwa and righteous deeds, which alone secure eternal success. It invites modern readers to reassess their priorities and recognize that true prosperity lies in spiritual excellence rather than in accumulating possessions that will ultimately perish.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَمَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتُهَا ۚ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
And whatever thing you [people] have been given - it is [only for] the enjoyment of worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allāh is better and more lasting; so will you not use reason?
يَـٰقَوْمِ إِنَّمَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا مَتَـٰعٌ وَإِنَّ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ هِىَ دَارُ ٱلْقَرَارِ
O my people, this worldly life is only [temporary] enjoyment, and indeed, the Hereafter - that is the home of [permanent] settlement.
فَلَمَّآ أَنجَىٰهُمْ إِذَا هُمْ يَبْغُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ ۗ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغْيُكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُم ۖ مَّتَـٰعَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَنُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
But when He saves them, at once they commit injustice upon the earth without right. O mankind, your injustice is only against yourselves, [being merely] the enjoyment of worldly life. Then to Us is your return, and We will inform you of what you used to do.
فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءً مُّنۢبَثًّا
And become dust dispersing,