إِنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۚ وَإِن تُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ يُؤْتِكُمْ أُجُورَكُمْ وَلَا يَسْـَٔلْكُمْ أَمْوَٰلَكُمْ 36
Translations
[This] worldly life is only amusement and diversion. And if you believe and fear Allāh, He will give you your rewards and not ask you for your properties.
Transliteration
Innamā al-ḥayātu ad-dunyā la'ibun wa lahw. Wa in tu'minū wa tattaqū yu'tikum ujūrakum wa lā yas'alukum amwālakum.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that worldly life is merely play and amusement, contrasting it with the eternal reward awaiting believers who have faith and piety. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that Allah promises to grant believers their full reward in the Hereafter without demanding their wealth in this life, thereby encouraging sincere worship over material obsession. Al-Qurtubi notes this serves as a reminder that true wealth lies in obedience to Allah, not in accumulating worldly possessions.
Revelation Context
Surah Muhammad is a Medinan chapter addressing the Muslim community during a period of military and spiritual struggle. This ayah appears in the context of exhorting believers to fight in Allah's cause, reminding them that the temporary distractions of this world should not prevent them from pursuing eternal reward through faith and God-consciousness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The world is cursed, and all that is in it is cursed, except for the remembrance of Allah and what pleases Him, and the scholar and the student' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' relates to balancing worldly life with spiritual priorities (Jami' at-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should not allow the fleeting pleasures and distractions of this world to distract them from cultivating genuine faith and piety, knowing that Allah's reward for sincere devotion far exceeds any worldly gain. This encourages a balanced perspective where one fulfills worldly responsibilities while maintaining spiritual priorities and trust in Allah's promise of recompense.