Surah An-Noor (24) — Ayah 39

(Ayah 39){ وَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْۤا اَعْمَالُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍۭ…: ’’سَرَابٌ‘‘} In a barren plain or desert at noon, due to the sunlight, from a distance it appears as if water is rippling; this is called "mirage," which is merely an optical illusion. {’’قِيْعَةٌ‘‘} and {’’ قَاعٍ‘‘} both mean barren plain. {’’ الظَّمْاٰنُ ‘‘ ’’فَعْلَانُ‘‘} is an intensive form on the pattern of exaggeration, meaning extremely thirsty. Previously, the example of the light of guidance in the hearts of the believers was given; now two examples are given for the deeds of the disbelievers, just as in Surah Al-Baqarah, examples of fire and water were given for the hypocrites, and in Surah Ar-Ra'd, two examples were given for the guidance and knowledge that settle in the hearts—one of water and the other of fire. Here, two examples of the deeds of the disbelievers are given with the word {’’ اَوْ ‘‘}.

Some scholars have explained the example of the mirage in this way: there are two types of disbelievers. One type, according to their own assumption, does some good deeds and thinks that these will benefit them after death, such as serving the House of Allah, giving water to pilgrims, giving charity, etc. However, none of their deeds, even if apparently good, are accepted or valid with Allah due to the misfortune of disbelief. The reward for their good deeds is given to them in this world, as stated: «{ اَذْهَبْتُمْ طَيِّبٰتِكُمْ فِيْ حَيَاتِكُمُ الدُّنْيَا وَ اسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِهَا }» [ الأحقاف : ۲۰ ] "You have taken your good things in your worldly life and you have enjoyed them." In the Hereafter, their deeds will be made {’’ هَبَاءً مَّنْثُوْرًا ‘‘} (scattered dust). (See Al-Furqan: 23) Elsewhere, their deeds are likened to ashes on which a strong wind blows on a stormy day. See Surah Ibrahim (18).

In the verse under commentary, it is stated that the example of those who disbelieve in their Lord is like that of a person who, at noon, sees water from a distance due to extreme thirst, which is actually a mirage. He, due to severe thirst, considers it water and reaches there, but finds nothing there, except those who will demand an account from him and seize him for their reckoning. Similarly, the disbeliever assumes that his good deeds will benefit him on the Day of Resurrection, but on that Day, they will become as meaningless as a mirage, and instead of receiving a reward, he will face Allah, who will take full account from him. {’’ وَ اللّٰهُ سَرِيْعُ الْحِسَابِ ‘‘} That is, Allah is swift in reckoning, because others do not have knowledge of everything, nor can any of them take account of more than one at a time, so their reckoning is delayed. Whereas Allah has complete knowledge of everything past and future, He is not dependent on writing or reading, and He can take account of the entire universe in a single moment, so He is {’’ سَرِيْعُ الْحِسَابِ ‘‘}. It does not take Him any time in reckoning.

The second type of disbelievers are those who have no concern for the Hereafter, so that they might do some good deed for its sake. They are immersed from head to toe in worldly pleasures and are drowning in disbelief and misguidance, oppression and ignorance, desire-following, and disobedience to Allah. Their example is given ahead: they do not even have as much brightness as the one deceived by the mirage saw. These people are trapped in pure darkness and layers upon layers of darkness; not a single ray of light reaches them from any direction.

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

39. As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage [65] in a desert, which the thirsty one thinks is water. But when he comes near it, he finds nothing there, but finds Allah with him, Who will settle his account in full. And Allah is swift in taking account.

[65]
The Linguistic Difference Between "Saraab" and "Sharaab":

In the Arabic language, every drinkable thing is called "sharaab," and that which appears to be "sharaab" outwardly but in reality is the opposite is called "saraab." Then, this word began to be used for that heap of sand which, from a certain angle in the sunlight, appears to be surging water from a distance, but in reality, there is no water at all.

The Example of Ordinary Disbelievers and Hypocrites:

This example relates to those disbelievers and hypocrites who, in general, believe in the Hereafter and also perform some good deeds, even if it is for show and display. Then, they also expect that they will receive a reward for these deeds in the Hereafter. And since most of their deeds are not according to Allah's will but according to their own desires, Allah Almighty, while stating the example of such people, said: Just as in a desert, a thirsty person, seeing the shining sand from afar, mistakes it for water and heads towards it to quench his thirst. That person, driven by thirst, after traversing the field of hot sand and running to reach there, finds nothing there. And he becomes extremely disappointed and exhausted. This is exactly the state of such disbelievers. The time of death is a "saraab" for them. And they are sitting with the expectation that they will receive the reward for their good deeds. But due to disbelief, hypocrisy, and the evil of their deeds, they will not receive any reward for their deeds there. And just as the thirsty person had to endure exhaustion and the intensity of heat in reaching the "saraab," in the same way, these people will be given the recompense for their evil deeds in the form of the punishment of Hell.