18–21. “Whoever desires the fleeting world, We hasten for him therein whatever We will, for whomever We intend. Then We assign Hell to him, where he will burn, condemned and driven away. But whoever desires the Hereafter, strives for it as it deserves, and is a believer—it is those whose striving will be appreciated. To each—these and those alike—We extend from your Lord’s bounty, and your Lord’s bounty is never withheld. See how We have favored some of them over others; yet the Hereafter is greater in degrees and greater in distinction.”
Allah Most High informs us that whoever desires “the fleeting world”—this transient, vanishing world—and therefore works and strives for it, forgetting his origin or his ultimate end, Allah hastens to give him whatever He wills and intends of its paltry goods and pleasures, according to what [Allah] has decreed for him in the Preserved Tablet. Yet this is neither beneficial nor lasting enjoyment for him.
Then, in the Hereafter, He assigns him “Hell, where he will burn”; that is, he will directly endure its punishment, “condemned and driven away”—in a state of disgrace and humiliation, condemned by Allah and His creation and banished from Allah’s mercy. Thus punishment and humiliation are combined for him.
“But whoever desires the Hereafter”—being pleased with it and preferring it to this world—“and strives for it as it deserves,” in the manner prescribed by the revealed scriptures and prophetic teachings, acting upon them to the best of his ability, “and is a believer” in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, and the Last Day—“it is those whose striving will be appreciated”; that is, accepted, multiplied, and stored up for them, with their reward and recompense awaiting them with their Lord.
Even so, they do not miss their allotted share of this world. Allah supplies both groups from it, for this is His gift and beneficence.
“And your Lord’s bounty is never withheld”; that is, it is not denied to anyone. Rather, all creatures freely enjoy His grace and beneficence.
“See how We have favored some of them over others” in this world through abundance or scarcity of provision, ease or hardship, knowledge or ignorance, sound judgment or foolishness, and other respects in which Allah has favored some servants over others.
“Yet the Hereafter is greater in degrees and greater in distinction.” There is no comparison whatsoever between the bliss and pleasures of this world and those of the Hereafter.
How vast is the gulf between one who dwells in lofty chambers amid varied delights, happiness, blessings, and joy, and one who is tossed about in the blazing Fire and subjected to painful punishment, upon whom the wrath of the Most Merciful Lord has fallen! In each of the two abodes, the disparities among its inhabitants are beyond anyone’s ability to enumerate.