mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respectof wealth and
children. (It is) like a rain (Ghayth), thereof the growth is pleasing
to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow;
then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe
torment, and (there is) forgiveness from Allah and (His) pleasure. And
the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment." [57:20]
Allah the Exalted degrades the significance of this life and belittles
it by saying,
"that the life of this worldis only play and amusement, pomp and
mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respectof wealth and
children."
Meaning, this is the significance of this life to its people, just as
He said inanother Ayah,
"Beautified for men is thelove of things they covet; women, children,
much of 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." ( 3:14 )
Allah the Exalted also sets aparable for this life, declaring that its
joys are fading and its delights are perishable, saying that life is,
"Like a rain (Ghayth)," which is the rain that comes down to mankind,
after they had felt despair. Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah,
"And He is it Who sends down the Ghayth (rain) after they have
despaired." (42:28)
Allah's statement,
"thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller;"
meaning that farmers admire the vegetation thatgrows in the aftermath
of rain. And just as farmers admire vegetation, the disbelievers
admire this life; they are the most eager to acquire the traits of
life, and life is most dear to them,
"afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw."
Meaning, that vegetation soon turns yellow in color, after being fresh
and green. After that, the greenfades away and becomes scattered
pieces of dust. This is the parable of this worldly life, it starts
young,then matures and then turns old and feeble. This isalso the
parable of mankind in this life; they are young and strong in the
beginning. In this stageof life, they look youthful and handsome.
Slowly, they begin growing older, their mannerism changes and their
strength weakens. They then grow old and feeble; moving becomes
difficult for them, while doing easy things becomes beyond their
ability. Allah the Exalted said,
"Allah is He Who created you in (a state of) weakness, then gave
youstrength after weakness, then after strength gave (you) weakness
and gray hair. He creates what He wills. And He is the All-Knowing,
the All-Powerful." (30:54)
This parable indicates the near demise of this life andthe imminent
end of it, while in contrast, the Hereafter is surely coming. Those
who hear this parable should, therefore, be aware of the significance
of the Hereafter and feel eagerness in the goodness that it contains,
"But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment, and (there is)
forgiveness from Allah and (His) pleasure. And the life of this world
is only a deceiving enjoyment."
Meaning, surely, the Hereafter that will certainlycome contains two
things either severe punishment or forgiveness from Allah and His good
pleasure.
Allah the Exalted said,
"And the life of this worldis only a deceiving enjoyment."
Meaning, this life is only a form of enjoyment that deceives those who
incline to it. Surely, those who recline to this life will admire it
and feel that it is dear to them, so much so, that they might think
that this is the only life, no life or dwelling after it. Yet, in
reality, this life is insignificant as compared to the Hereafter.
Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah said that theMessenger of Allah,
sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said,
" Paradise is nearer to any of you than the strap of hisshoe, and so
is the (Hell) Fire." [Ahmad 1:387]
Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith through the narration of Ath-Thawri
[Fath al-Bari 11:328]. This Hadith indicates the close proximity of
both good and evil in relation to mankind.
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