Commentary on Surah al-Takāthur

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Rivalry for increase distracts you, until you visit the graves. No indeed! You will soon know. Again, no indeed! You will soon know. No indeed! If only you knew with certain knowledge. You will surely see the Hellfire. Then you will surely see it with the eye of certainty. Then, on that Day, you will surely be questioned about your blessings.

The basmalah has already been discussed.

“Rivalry for increase distracts you, until you visit the graves.” This is a declarative statement in which Allah, Mighty and Majestic, addresses His servants and informs them: “Rivalry for increase distracts you.” The meaning of “distracts you” is that it occupies you until you become heedless of what is more important: remembering Allah Most High and obeying Him.

The address here applies to the entire Muslim community, except for those whose concern for the Hereafter occupies them from worldly affairs—and they are few. We say that they are few because it is authentically established in the two Sahīhs that Allah, Exalted is He, will say on the Day of Resurrection:

“O Adam!” He will reply, “At Your service, ever ready to obey, and all good is in Your hands.” He will say, “Bring forth from among your descendants a contingent for the Fire.” Adam will ask, “What is the contingent for the Fire?” He will answer, “From every thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine.” (1)

One will be in Paradise and the rest in the Fire. This is an enormous number! If only one in every thousand descendants of Adam belongs to Paradise while the rest belong to the Fire, then the general address in a verse such as this retains its original universality, for one in a thousand is negligible in comparison. As for the words “rivalry for increase,” they refer to