Mujahid said: “Every believer is a steadfast affirmer of truth and a witness,” and he recited this verse. (1)
Others said: The statement ends at His words, “They are the steadfast affirmers of truth.” Then He begins anew: “And the witnesses are before their Lord”; the conjunction is introductory. This is the view of Ibn Abbas, Masruq, and a group of others. They then differed as to who they are. Some said: They are the prophets who will bear witness against the nations on the Day of Resurrection. This is narrated from Ibn Abbas (2) and is the view of Muqatil ibn Hayyan. Muqatil ibn Sulayman said: They are those who were martyred in the way of Allah. (3)
“They shall have their reward” for the righteous deeds they performed, “and their light” upon the Bridge. “But those who disbelieve and deny Our signs—they are the companions of the Blaze.”
“Know that the life of this world is but play, diversion, adornment, boasting among yourselves, and rivalry in wealth and children—like rain whose vegetation delights the cultivators; then it withers, and you see it turn yellow; then it becomes debris. And in the Hereafter there is severe punishment, and forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure. The life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion.” (20)
His saying, Exalted is He: “Know that the life of this world”—that is, the life of this world; the particle ma is supplementary—meaning, life in this abode is “play”: falsehood with no lasting substance; “and diversion”: a joy that then comes to an end; “and adornment”: an outward display with which you beautify yourselves; “and boasting among yourselves”: with some of you boasting over others; “and rivalry in wealth and children”: that is, taking pride in abundant wealth and children. He then sets forth a parable for it, saying: “Like rain whose vegetation delights the cultivators”—that is, the farmers—“then it withers”: it dries up; “and you see it turn yellow” after its greenness and freshness; “then it becomes debris”: after drying up, it breaks apart and crumbles away, and perishes. “And in the Hereafter there is severe punishment”—Muqatil said: for the enemies of Allah—“and forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure”: for His devoted servants and those who obey Him.
“The life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion.” Said ibn Jubayr said: “It is the enjoyment of delusion for one who occupies himself therein with seeking the Hereafter; but whoever occupies himself with seeking it has provision sufficient to carry him to that which is better than it.” 15/4 A