Tafseer : Sura Al- Hadeed (Iron) Verse 20

1. Tafseer: Sura Al-Hadeed (Iron)Verse 20 Prepared by: Mona Salem Halaqa date: june 11, 2013 Sources: TafseerIbnKatheer Spoken interpretation of nomanali khan Written interpretation of Yasirqadhi

2. Quranic verse: Suratulhadeed – verse #20 “Know that the life of this world is only play, amusement, beautification, and boasting among you, and rivalry with respect to wealth and children. It is like a rain, the growth of which is pleasing to the grower; afterwards, it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter, there is severe torment, and there is forgiveness and pleasure from Allah. And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.”

3. Knowledge is power! • “Know” – Allah starts the verse with a command form of the verb, expressing surety. • He uses the word “know” not “be aware”. He also does not just omit the word and start “The life of this world is only play”. • To get our attention in the Quran, He (SWT) often says, “Oh you who believe” or “Oh mankind!” but instead He (SWT) starts by saying “Know!” • The choice of the word “know” is Allah (SWT) making a point that He is educating us about something we are likely unaware of, and emphasizing how important it is that we should know it. • Knowledge differs from information in that it is something that has been tested, and is certain. It is something we should take seriously and act upon, not just think about…

4. The nature of this world – the dunya • Two types of life – THIS life, the “dunya” and the NEXT life the “Akhirah” • The Arabic word “dunya” actually means Lower, Nearer, and Inferior. • Allah belittles in importance the “dunya” or this life we live as such: • Play (la’ib) – which literally carries the meaning of playing a game or sport, inherently something purposeless, silliness, and something to just pass the time • Amusement/entertainment (lahw) – which carries with it the meaning of wasting time, fulfilling the foolish desires of the human being • Beautification (Zeena) – this carries the meaning of pomp, showing off, and beautifying one’s personal appearance, home, transportation, food, and environment etc. • Mutual boasting/showing off between you in matters of money & children – the words Allah (SWT) uses include takathur which means to accumulate and pile things up, and Allah (SWT) says we are just in the business of gathering up money and children. He (SWT) also uses “tafakhur” which means to fatten and puff up i.e. make something bigger, which means to boast.

5. Similar verse – suraali- imran, verse 14 • “Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle, and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life, but Allah has the excellent return with Him.”

6. Alluding to The lifecycle of the human being 1st stage of life – we are children – we love to play! Games, toys, it is all a part of development and learning to speak, walk, and live as humans. So it is a time for play. 2nd stage of life – we are a bit older and want to be amused and entertained. We talk to our parents, other kids, watch shows on TV, music, video games; we want to be entertained and amused. At this age, we want to keep the kids amused so they don’t misbehave. 3rd stage of life – beautification. We are teenagers transitioning to adulthood. Suddenly we are concerned with our looks – how we project to others, if we’re attractive or not. We like to obsess with how things look – our rooms, our clothes, where we’re seen. It all becomes about appearances.

7. The lifecycle of the human being 4th stage of life – adulthood. Now we care a little less about our appearances and instead become occupied with the business of earning. Gathering wealth. Saving for retirement. Buying a house and a car. Both men and women are focused on this – and perhaps women then become concerned about their fertility and start focus on having babies. Baby showers. Birthdays. It is not enough to gather and accumulate these things, then we need to be boasting and showing off about it. Our wealth, our accomplishments, and even those of our children are all for “keeping up with the Joneses”. But then Allah (SWT) reminds us all this is temporary. He (SWT) gives us a metaphor of crops upon which rain falls. They start out green and fresh, and the farmer is so happy with them. But sooner or later they yellow and die and become dry, useless straw. That is a metaphor for the life of the human being – and also a wider metaphor for the life of this world. It is fleeting – it starts out strong and then the environment degrades until it will ultimately be destroyed by Allah (SWT).

8. Another verse alluding to the lifecycle Another verse in which Allah (SWT) more directly alludes to the life of the human being: “ Allah is He Who created you in a state of weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave you weakness and grey hair. He creates what He wills. And He is the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful.” Suratur Rum (Rome), verse 54.

9. The fallacy of wealth & children • "Wealth and children are the adornments of the life of this world. But the permanent righteous deeds are better in your Lord's Sight (to attain) rewards, and better in respect of hope." • Surah al-Kahf, 46 • “And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us, but only he (will please Us) who believes, and does righteous deeds; for such (people), there will be a double reward for what they did, and they will reside in the high dwellings (of Paradise), in peace and security." • Surah Saba', 37 • "And strain not your eyes in longing for the things that We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them - the splendor of the life of this world - that We may test them thereby. And indeed, the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting." • Surah Ta Ha, 131

10. narrations on wealth from our Prophet (sws) • "Richness is not in the quantity of possessions (that one has); rather, true richness is the richness of one's self (contentment).” Related by Bukharri. • "That which is little yet sufficient is better than that which is much but distracts.” Authenticated by Al-Albani rated Sahih. • "He is indeed successful who has been guided to Islam, and his sustenance was just sufficient for him, and he was content with it.” Recorded by IbnHibban. • "The best sustenance that you are given is that which is just sufficient.” Recorded by At-Tirmidhi. • "Whoever amongst you wakes up, safe in his house, healthy in his body, having the bare amount of food that he requires for the day, then it is as if the entire world has been captured for him, with all that it contains!” Recorded by Imam Ahmad. • "Verily Allah tests His servant with what He has given him. So whoever is content with whatever he has been assigned, then Allah will bless him in it, and give him more! But whoever is not content (with what he has been given), then he will not be blessed in it.” Recorded by IbnMajah. • "Give up (hope of attaining) this world, Allah will love you. And give up (hope of) whatever is in the possession of other people, and the people will love you.” Bukharri. • "Pray your prayer as if it is your last, as if you are seeing Him (Allah), for even if you do not see Him then He sees you. And give up hope (of obtaining) what other's possess, then you will live a rich life. And beware of anything that you might (later) have to make an excuse for.” Bukharri.

11. A brief definition of the hereafter Allah (SWT) then reminds us that the Hereafter is different from this life. It is not about playing, amusing, beautifying and competing. Instead it contains: • Severe punishment – for the disbeliever & un-repentant • Forgiveness from Allah (SWT) – for the believing sinner who has repented and earned Allah’s favor and forgiveness • Pleasure and satisfaction of Allah (SWT) – for the believer and righteous person whose good deeds outweigh his minor sins

12. Hadith about the nearness of the hereafter • The Prophet (sws) said, as recorded by Imam Ahmad: • “Paradise is nearer to any of you than the strap on his shoe, and so is the Hell Fire.” • Collected by Imam Bukharri. • This indicates that the end is near, life is short, and that good and evil are so very close to us. We only need choose our path correctly.

13. How This life is a deception… • It convinces you that it is the only thing that matters and so you pre-occupy yourself with it. • While you might recall your Hereafter at limited times, you are not focused on attaining Allah’s pleasure in it. Your actions and thoughts are focused on daily life and you lose sight of the real goal – seeking Allah’s pleasure. • Your du’a is only for worldly gains in this life, and not for guidance, forgiveness, or to be saved from punishment. • In times of difficulty, you are not grateful for your blessings and you despair, because you forget that this life is only temporary and that the difficulty is a test of your faith and patience. • You put success in this life before your success in the Hereafter and compromise Islamic values in order to attain wealth, children, or recognition here. • Can you think of any other ways?

14. we “Know” about the deception – now what? • Allah (SWT) then says: • “Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord, and Paradise the width of which is as the width of the heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is the grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He is pleased with. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.” • (Al-Hadeed, Verse 21)