(20–21) “Know that the life of this world is nothing but play, amusement, adornment, mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in wealth and children. It is like rain whose growth delights the disbelievers; then it withers, and you see it turn yellow; then it becomes crumbling debris. In the Hereafter there is severe punishment, as well as forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure. The life of this world is nothing but a delusive enjoyment. * Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden as broad as heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers. That is Allah’s bounty, which He grants to whomever He wills. Allah is the Possessor of immense bounty.”
Allah Most High informs us of the true nature of worldly life and explains its ultimate end and that of its people: it is play and amusement. Bodies play through it and hearts are distracted by it. This is borne out by what we see among those devoted to this world: they spend their lifetimes amusing their hearts, heedless of the remembrance of Allah (1) and of the promises and warnings awaiting them. You see that they have taken their religion as play and amusement. This is in contrast to those who are spiritually alert and labor for the Hereafter. Their hearts are filled with the remembrance of Allah, knowledge of Him, and love for Him, and they occupy their time with deeds that bring them nearer to Allah, whether their benefits are confined to themselves or extend to others.
[And His words:] “and adornment,” meaning adornment in clothing, food, drink, conveyances, houses, palaces, status, [and other things]. “And mutual boasting among you,” meaning that each of its people seeks to boast over the others, prevail over them in worldly affairs, and achieve prominence in its various spheres. “And rivalry in wealth and children,” meaning that everyone wants to surpass others in wealth and children. This is borne out by what occurs among those who love this world and repose in it.
This is unlike one who recognizes worldly life and its true nature, and therefore makes it a passage rather than a permanent abode. He competes in whatever brings him nearer to Allah and adopts the means that lead him to Allah (2). When he sees others trying to surpass and compete with him in wealth and children, he competes with them in righteous deeds.
Allah then presents a likeness for worldly life: rain falls upon the earth, causing its vegetation—the food of people and livestock—to grow. When the earth has donned its adornment and its growth delights the disbelievers, whose concern and gaze are confined to worldly life (3), there comes upon it from Allah’s command [something that destroys it]. It withers and dries up, returning to its former state as though no greenery had ever grown there and it had never presented a beautiful sight.
The same is true of worldly life. While it is flourishing and radiant for its possessor, he obtains whatever he seeks from it and finds every door open whenever he pursues any of its affairs. Then the divine decree overtakes it, taking it (4) from his hands and stripping him of control over it—or taking him away from it. He departs empty-handed, carrying no provision from it except his shroud. Woe, then, to the one whose highest aspiration is this world and whose deeds and efforts are devoted to it.
As for deeds performed for the Hereafter, they are what truly benefit a person, are stored up for him, and remain with the servant forever. Allah Most High therefore says: “In the Hereafter there is severe punishment, as well as forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure.” That is, there are only two possible outcomes in the Hereafter: severe punishment in the Fire of Hell, with its shackles, chains, and terrors, for the one whose goal and ultimate pursuit was this world, so that he dared to disobey Allah, denied Allah’s signs, and rejected His blessings;
or forgiveness from Allah for evil deeds, deliverance from punishments, and Allah’s good pleasure, by which He admits (5) those upon whom He bestows it into the Abode of His Pleasure. This is for those who recognized the true nature of worldly life and strove for the Hereafter as it deserves.
All of this calls one to renounce attachment to worldly life and desire the Hereafter. Allah therefore says: “The life of this world is nothing but a delusive enjoyment.” That is, it is merely something to be enjoyed and utilized for meeting one’s needs. Only those of feeble understanding—whom the Deceiver deludes concerning Allah—are deceived by it and repose in it.
Allah then commands people to race toward His forgiveness, good pleasure, and Paradise. This is accomplished by pursuing the means of forgiveness: sincere repentance, beneficially seeking forgiveness, and keeping away from sins and the circumstances in which they are likely to arise. One races toward Allah’s good pleasure through righteous deeds and by constantly striving to do what pleases Him: worshipping the Creator with excellence and showing kindness to creation through every form of benefit. Allah therefore mentions the deeds that bring this about, saying: “And a Garden as broad as heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers.” Belief in Allah and His messengers (6) encompasses both the foundations and the branches of the religion.
“That is Allah’s bounty, which He grants to whomever He wills.” That is, this ⦗842⦘ is what We have explained to you, mentioning the paths that lead to Paradise and those that lead to the Fire. Allah’s bounty of abundant recompense and immense reward (7) is among His greatest favors and graces toward His servants. “Allah is the Possessor of immense bounty”—no one can enumerate His praises. Rather, He is as He has praised Himself and is above all that His servants can ever say in praise of Him (8).