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Ayah
Word by Word
زُيِّنَ
[It is] beautified
لِلنَّاسِ
for mankind
حُبُّ
(is) love
ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ
(of) the (things they) desire
مِنَ
of
ٱلنِّسَآءِ
[the] women
وَٱلۡبَنِينَ
and [the] sons
وَٱلۡقَنَٰطِيرِ
and [the] heaps
ٱلۡمُقَنطَرَةِ
[the] stored up
مِنَ
of
ٱلذَّهَبِ
[the] gold
وَٱلۡفِضَّةِ
and [the] silver
وَٱلۡخَيۡلِ
and [the] horses
ٱلۡمُسَوَّمَةِ
[the] branded
وَٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ
and [the] cattle
وَٱلۡحَرۡثِۗ
and [the] tilled land
ذَٰلِكَ
That
مَتَٰعُ
(is) provision
ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ
(of) life
ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ
(of) the world
وَٱللَّهُ
but Allah
عِندَهُۥ
with Him
حُسۡنُ
(is an) excellent
ٱلۡمَـَٔابِ
[the] abode to return
زُيِّنَ
[It is] beautified
لِلنَّاسِ
for mankind
حُبُّ
(is) love
ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ
(of) the (things they) desire
مِنَ
of
ٱلنِّسَآءِ
[the] women
وَٱلۡبَنِينَ
and [the] sons
وَٱلۡقَنَٰطِيرِ
and [the] heaps
ٱلۡمُقَنطَرَةِ
[the] stored up
مِنَ
of
ٱلذَّهَبِ
[the] gold
وَٱلۡفِضَّةِ
and [the] silver
وَٱلۡخَيۡلِ
and [the] horses
ٱلۡمُسَوَّمَةِ
[the] branded
وَٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ
and [the] cattle
وَٱلۡحَرۡثِۗ
and [the] tilled land
ذَٰلِكَ
That
مَتَٰعُ
(is) provision
ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ
(of) life
ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ
(of) the world
وَٱللَّهُ
but Allah
عِندَهُۥ
with Him
حُسۡنُ
(is an) excellent
ٱلۡمَـَٔابِ
[the] abode to return
Translation
Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allāh has with Him the best return [i.e., Paradise].
Tafsir
Beautified for mankind is love of lusts, that which the self lusts after and calls for, beautified by Satan, or by God as a test - of women, children, stored-up heaps of gold and silver, horses of mark, fine [horses], cattle, namely, camels, cows and sheep, and tillage, the cultivation of land. That, which is mentioned, is the comfort of the life of this world, enjoyed while it lasts, but then perishes; but God - with Him is the more excellent abode, place of return, which is the Paradise, and for this reason one should desire none other than this [abode].
"The True Value of This Earthly Life
Allah says;
زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاء وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالَانْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ
Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, Qanatir Al-Muqantarah of gold and silver, branded beautiful horses (Muﷺwamah), cattle and fertile land.
Allah mentions the delights that He put in this life for people, such as women and children, and He started with women, because the test with them is more tempting.
For instance, the Sahih recorded that the Messenger said,
مَا تَرَكْتُ بَعْدِي فِتْنَةً أَضَرَّ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النِّسَاء
I did not leave behind me a test more tempting to men than women.
When one enjoys women for the purpose of having children and preserving his chastity, then he is encouraged to do so.
There are many Hadiths that encourage getting married, such as,
وَإِنَّ خَيْرَ هذِهِ الاْإُمَّةِ مَنْ كَانَ أَكْثَرَهَا نِسَاء
Verily, the best members of this Ummah are those who have the most wives.
He also said,
الدُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ وَخَيْرُ مَتَاعِهَا الْمَرْأَةُ الصَّالِحَة
This life is a delight, and the best of its delight is a righteous wife.
The Prophet said in another Hadith,
حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ النِّسَاءُ وَالطِّيبُ وَجُعِلَتْ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَة
I was made to like women and perfume, and the comfort of my eye is the prayer.
Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said,
""Nothing was more beloved to the Messenger of Allah than women, except horses,""
and in another narration,
""...than horses except women.""
The desire to have children is sometimes for the purpose of pride and boasting, and as such, is a temptation. When the purpose for having children is to reproduce and increase the Ummah of Muhammad with those who worship Allah alone without partners, then it is encouraged and praised.
A Hadith states,
تَزَوَّجُوا الْوَدُودَ الْوَلُودَ فَإِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمُ الاُْمَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة
Marry the Wadud (kind) and Walud (fertile) woman, for I will compare your numbers to the rest of the nations on the Day of Resurrection.
The desire of wealth sometimes results out of arrogance, and the desire to dominate the weak and control the poor, and this conduct is prohibited. Sometimes, the want for more money is for the purpose of spending it on acts of worship, being kind to the family, the relatives, and spending on various acts of righteousness and obedience; this behavior is praised and encouraged in the religion.
Scholars of Tafsir have conflicting opinions about the amount of the Qintar, all of which indicate that;
the Qintar is a large amount of money, as Ad-Dahhak and other scholars said.
Abu Hurayrah said
""The Qintar is twelve thousand Uwqiyah, each Uwqiyah is better than what is between the heavens and earth.""
This was recorded by Ibn Jarir.
The desire to have horses can be one of three types.
Sometimes, owners of horses collect them to be used in the cause of Allah, and when warranted, they use their horses in battle. This type of owner shall be rewarded for this good action.
Another type collects horses to boast, and out of enmity to the people of Islam, and this type earns a burden for his behavior.
Another type collects horses to fulfill their needs and to collect their offspring, and they do not forget Allah's right due on their horses.
This is why in this case, these horses provide a shield of sufficiency for their owner, as evident by a Hadith that we will mention, Allah willing, when we explain Allah's statement,
وَأَعِدُّواْ لَهُمْ مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ
And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war. (8:60)
As for the Muﷺwamah horses, Ibn Abbas said that;
they are the branded, beautiful horses.
This is the same explanation of Mujahid, Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abdur-Rahman bin Abdullah bin Abza, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi bin Anas and Abu Sinan and others.
Makhul said,
the Muﷺwamah refers to the horse with a white spotted faced, and the horse with white feet.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah said,
لَيْسَ مِنْ فَرَسٍ عَرَبِيَ إِلاَّ يُوْذَنُ لَهُ مَعَ كُلِّ فَجْرٍ يَدْعُو بِدَعْوَتَيْنِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ خَوَّلْتَنِي مِنْ بَنِي ادَمَ فَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَحَبِّ مَالِهِ وَأَهْلِهِ إِلَيْهِ أَوْ أَحَبَّ أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ إِلَيْه
Every Arabian horse is allowed to have two supplications every dawn, and the horse supplicates, `O Allah! You made me subservient to the son of Adam. Therefore, make me among the dearest of his wealth and household to him, or,make me the dearest of his household and wealth to him.
Allah's statement,
وَالَانْعَامِ
Cattle,
means, camels, cows and sheep.
.
وَالْحَرْثِ
And fertile land,
meaning, the land that is used to farm and grow plants.
Allah then said,
ذَلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا
This is the pleasure of the present world's life,
meaning, these are the delights of this life and its short lived joys.
وَاللّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَأبِ
But Allah has the excellent return with Him.
meaning, the best destination and reward.
The Reward of the Those Who Have Taqwa is Better Than All Joys of This World
This is why Allah said
قُلْ أَوُنَبِّيُكُم بِخَيْرٍ مِّن ذَلِكُمْ
Say:""Shall I inform you of things far better than those!""
This Ayah means, ""Say, O Muhammad, to the people, `Should I tell you about what is better than the delights and joys of this life that will soon perish!""'
Allah informed them of what is better when He said,
لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الَانْهَارُ
For those who have Taqwa there are Gardens (Paradise) with their Lord, underneath which rivers flow,
meaning, rivers run throughout it.
These rivers carry various types of drinks:honey, milk, wine and water such that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no heart has ever imagined.
خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا
Therein (is their) eternal (home),
meaning, they shall remain in it forever and ever and will not want to be removed from it.
وَأَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ
And Azwajun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives),
meaning, from filth, dirt, harm, menstruation, post birth bleeding, and other things that affect women in this world.
وَرِضْوَانٌ مِّنَ اللّهِ
And Allah will be pleased with them.
meaning, Allah's pleasure will descend on them and He shall never be angry with them after that. This is why Allah said in in Surah Bara`ah,
وَرِضْوَنٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ
But the pleasure of Allah is greater. (9:72)
meaning, greater than the eternal delight that He has granted them.
Allah then said,
وَاللّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ
And Allah is All-Seer of the (His) servants.
and, He gives each provisions according to what they deserve.
قُلْ أَوُنَبِّيُكُم بِخَيْرٍ مِّن ذَلِكُمْ
Say:""Shall I inform you of things far better than those!""
This Ayah means, ""Say, O Muhammad, to the people, `Should I tell you about what is better than the delights and joys of this life that will soon perish!""'
Allah informed them of what is better when He said,
لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الَانْهَارُ
For those who have Taqwa there are Gardens (Paradise) with their Lord, underneath which rivers flow,
meaning, rivers run throughout it.
These rivers carry various types of drinks:honey, milk, wine and water such that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no heart has ever imagined.
خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا
Therein (is their) eternal (home),
meaning, they shall remain in it forever and ever and will not want to be removed from it.
وَأَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ
And Azwajun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives),
meaning, from filth, dirt, harm, menstruation, post birth bleeding, and other things that affect women in this world.
وَرِضْوَانٌ مِّنَ اللّهِ
And Allah will be pleased with them.
meaning, Allah's pleasure will descend on them and He shall never be angry with them after that. This is why Allah said in in Surah Bara`ah,
وَرِضْوَنٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ
But the pleasure of Allah is greater. (9:72)
meaning, greater than the eternal delight that He has granted them.
Allah then said,
وَاللّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ
And Allah is All-Seer of the (His) servants.
and, He gives each provisions according to what they deserve.
The Supplication and Description of Al-Muttaqin
Allah describes the Muttaqin, His pious servants, whom He promised tremendous rewards,
الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا امَنَّا
Those who say:""Our Lord! We have indeed believed,""
in You, Your Book and Your Messenger.
فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا
so forgive us our sins,
because of our faith in You and in what You legislated for us. Therefore, forgive us our errors and shortcomings, with Your bounty and mercy,
وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
and save us from the punishment of the Fire.
Allah then said
الصَّابِرِينَ
(They are) those who are patient,
while performing acts of obedience and abandoning the prohibitions.
وَالصَّادِقِينَ
those who are true,
concerning their proclamation of faith, by performing the difficult deeds.
وَالْقَانِتِينَ
and obedient,
meaning, they submit and obey Allah,
وَالْمُنفِقِينَ
those who spend,
from their wealth on all the acts of obedience they were commanded, being kind to kith and kin, helping the needy, and comforting the destitute.
وَالْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِالَاسْحَارِ
and those who pray and beg Allah's pardon in the last hours of the night.
and this testifies to the virtue of seeking Allah's forgiveness in the latter part of the night.
It was reported that when Yaqub said to his children,
سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّيَ
(I will ask my Lord for forgiveness for you) (12:98) he waited until the latter part of the night to say his supplication.
Furthermore, the Two Sahihs, the Musnad and Sunan collections recorded through several Companions that the Messenger of Allah said,
يَنْزِلُ اللهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالى فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلى سَمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا حِينَ يَبْقَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الاْخِرُ فَيَقُولُ
هَلْ مِنْ سَايِلٍ فَأُعْطِيَهُ
هَلْ مِنْ دَاعٍ فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ
هَلْ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ
Every night, when the last third of it remains, our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, descends to the lowest heaven saying,
""Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request?
Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to his invocation?
Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?""
The Two Sahihs recorded that Aishah said,
""The Messenger of Allah performed Witr during the first part, the middle and latter parts of the night. Then, later (in his life), he would perform it (only) during the latter part.""
Abdullah bin Umar used to pray during the night and would ask,
""O Nafi! Is it the latter part of the night yet?""
and if Nafi said, ""Yes,"" Ibn Umar would start supplicating to Allah and seeking His forgiveness until dawn.
This Hadith was collected by Ibn Abi Hatim."
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