Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 124

(Ayah 124) ➊ By "Dhikr" is meant the admonition sent down by Allah Almighty, as He said: «{ اِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَ اِنَّا لَهٗ لَحٰفِظُوْنَ }» [ الحجر : ۹ ] "Indeed, We, We have sent down the Dhikr, that is, the admonition, and indeed We will surely be its guardian."

➋ {فَاِنَّ لَهٗ مَعِيْشَةً ضَنْكًا : ’’ مَعِيْشَةً ‘‘} Life, the things upon which life is spent, such as food, drink, and other necessities. (Qamoos) {’’ ضَنْكًا ‘‘ ’’ ضَنُكَ يَضْنُكُ ضَنْكًا وَضُنَاكًا وَ ضَنَاكَةً ‘‘} is a verbal noun with the meaning of an active participle, therefore, despite being an attribute of {’’ مَعِيْشَةً ‘‘}, the word does not change; it remains the same for singular and plural, masculine and feminine, meaning he will live a life of hardship. Its interpretation is narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), so it is the most preferred. In Sahih Ibn Hibban, Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) regarding the saying of Allah, the Exalted, {’’ فَاِنَّ لَهٗ مَعِيْشَةً ضَنْكًا ‘‘}, that he said: ({عَذَابُ الْقَبْرِ }) "(It means) the punishment of the grave." In {’’ اَلتَّفْسِيْرُ الصَّحِيْحُ الْمَسْبُوْرُ ‘‘}, it has been quoted from Al-Ihsan (3119), Al-Mustadrak Al-Hakim (1/381, H: 1405), and several books, and from various Imams its being Hasan, Jayyid, or Sahih has also been reported. Imam Tabari narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) with a good chain that he interpreted it as "al-shaqa’" (misery). For the interpretation of "al-shaqa’," see Surah Ta-Ha (2) {’’ مَعِيْشَةً ضَنْكًا ‘‘} a phrase in which both the hardship of this world and the grave are included. The person who turns away from Allah’s admonition is deprived of trust in Allah and contentment with what He has given, and is always caught up in the greed for more and more wealth and status. If he gets two valleys of wealth, he sets out in search of a third. Like the thirst of a rabid dog, his greed never ends. Even if he owns billions and trillions, he is a pauper; due to the baseness of greed and miserliness, he does not gain anyone’s heartfelt love. Wealth and children, instead of being a comfort for him, become a torment from Allah. See Surah At-Tawbah (55, 85). Then comes a time when he cannot sleep without pills, and despite having every comfort, he sees no way out of this life full of grief and sorrow except suicide. If you do not believe, look at the suicide rates in Japan, Sweden, Norway, etc.

➌ { وَ نَحْشُرُهٗ يَوْمَ الْقِيٰمَةِ اَعْمٰى :} As a consequence of, in this world, closing his ears and eyes to the signs of Allah Almighty and not accepting the truth, on the Day of Resurrection he will be raised blind, dumb, and deaf. (Bani Isra’il: 97) The Day of Resurrection is fifty thousand years long. See Surah Al-Ma’arij (4). In its various periods, people’s conditions will be different. When rising from the grave, he will be blind, then to show the horrors of Hell and the honor of the believers, he will be made to see. See Surah At-Tur (14, 15) and Surah Maryam (38).

124. 1. From this constriction, some have understood the punishment of the grave, and some have taken it to mean that anxiety, restlessness, and unease in which wealthy people who are heedless of the remembrance of Allah remain afflicted.

But whoever turns away from My remembrance, his life will be narrow [90], and on the Day of Resurrection We will raise him up blind.

[90]
What is Meant by a Constricted Life?

The meaning of "ma'ishat an danka" is not that they will always be overwhelmed by poverty. Rather, it means that they will never attain contentment and inner peace. And if they are wealthy, they will always be caught up in the endless pursuit of more. They will find no peace at night nor during the day, and if they are poor, they will keep lamenting over their hardships and misfortunes, spending their lives in anxiety and distress. Another meaning is that, no matter how much wealth and property a disbeliever possesses, goodness will not enter it. This very wealth and property, after a brief period of enjoyment, will become a source of misery for him. Some commentators have interpreted this as referring to the life of the grave (Barzakh), meaning that even before the Day of Judgment, such a period of constriction will come upon them that even the earth of the grave will be made tight for them, and this interpretation is narrated from some Companions. In any case, all these situations can be included under this word.