without specifying what is used for play and amusement. Alternatively, the omission may be intended to leave the meaning unrestricted, encompassing everything worldly through which a person seeks to outdo others: wealth, status, male or female slaves, buildings, plantations, knowledge not pursued for Allah’s sake, or deeds that do not bring one nearer to Him. All of this constitutes rivalry for more that distracts from Allah and the Hereafter.

In Sahīh Muslim, ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Shikhkhīr relates: “I came to the Prophet ﷺ while he was reciting, ‘Rivalry for more distracts you.’ He said, ‘The son of Adam says, “My wealth! My wealth!” Yet what wealth is truly yours except what you gave in charity and sent ahead, what you ate and consumed, or what you wore and wore out?’”

Then Allah, glorified is He, emphatically threatens those whom rivalry for more has distracted. Such a person will see that everything he amassed has become scattered dust, and realize that the worldly possessions through which he competed were nothing but deception and delusion. He will find that the outcome of his rivalry is against him, not in his favour. There his rivalry will fail him, just as it failed others like him. There will appear to him from Allah what he had never anticipated, and the rivalry that distracted him from Allah and the Hereafter will become one of the greatest causes of his punishment. He was tormented by his rivalry for more in this world, then tormented by it in the intermediate life, and will then be tormented by it on the Day of Resurrection. Thus he was the most wretched of people through his rivalry for more in this world; then he was tormented in the intermediate life, and will then be tormented by it on the Day of Resurrection. Thus he was the most wretched of people through his rivalry for more, since it brought him ruin rather than gain and safety. All he gained from seeking more was to become one of those with the least, and all he obtained from rising through it in this world was to end up among the lowest.

What rivalry for more this is! How heavy its burden of sin! What wealth it brings—wealth that brings every kind of poverty—and what good, through which every evil is reached! When the veil is lifted from its possessor, he says, “If only I had sent something ahead for my life, and used what I had in obedience to Allah before my death! My Lord, send me back, so that I may do good with what I have left behind.” But he is told, “No! It is only a word he speaks.” It is merely something he says, and cannot be relied upon. He asks to return, but his request is not granted.

Consider how he first says, “My Lord,” calling upon his Lord for help. Then he turns to the angels who have been commanded to bring him before his Lord, exalted is He, and says, “Send me back.” He then states why he asks to return: to begin doing righteous deeds with what he left behind of his wealth and status