Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 60

(Ayah 60) ➊ { وَ مَاۤ اُوْتِيْتُمْ مِّنْ شَيْءٍ فَمَتَاعُ الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا … :} This is the third answer to the doubt of the disbelievers of Makkah, because the basis of their doubt was that they were not accepting this religion because they feared loss in their worldly life. Allah Almighty has stated that this is your great mistake, because whatever is given to you in this world is only a means of enjoyment for a short time in the life of this world, which will eventually come to an end, and whatever is with Allah in the Hereafter is much better than this and everlasting as well, and no intelligent person prefers the lesser and perishable over the better and everlasting, so do you not have sense that by preferring the perishable you are ruining your eternal life.

➋ What is with Allah is called much better because the provisions of this world, in comparison, have no value either in quantity or in quality. In terms of quantity, it will be as much as Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ آخِرَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ دُخُوْلاً الْجَنَّةَ ، وَآخِرَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ خُرُوْجًا مِنَ النَّارِ رَجُلٌ يَخْرُجُ حَبْوًا فَيَقُوْلُ لَهُ رَبُّهُ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ فَيَقُوْلُ رَبِّ! الْجَنَّةُ مَلْأَی فَيَقُوْلُ لَهُ ذٰلِكَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَكُلُّ ذٰلِكَ يُعِيْدُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةُ مَلأَی فَيَقُوْلُ إِنَّ لَكَ مِثْلَ الدُّنْيَا عَشْرَ مِرَارٍ ] [ بخاري، التوحید، باب کلام الرب عزوجل یوم القیامۃ… : ۷۵۱۱ ] “The last person to enter Paradise, who will be the last to come out of Hell, will crawl out of the Fire, and his Lord will say to him: ‘Enter Paradise.’ He will say: ‘O my Lord! Paradise is full.’ Allah Almighty will say this to him three times, and each time he will reply that Paradise is full. Then Allah Almighty will say: ‘You are granted ten times as much (Paradise) as the world.’” Mustawrid bin Shaddad (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ وَاللّٰهِ! مَا الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مِثْلُ مَا يَجْعَلُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِصْبَعَهُ وَ أَشَارَ يَحْيٰی بِالسَّبَّابَةِ هٰذِهِ فِي الْيَمِّ فَلْيَنْظُرْ بِمَ تَرْجِعُ؟ ] [ مسلم، الجنۃ و صفۃ نعیمھا، باب فناء الدنیا و بیان الحشر یوم القیامۃ : ۲۸۵۸ ] “By Allah! In comparison to the Hereafter, the world is nothing except like one of you dipping his finger in the sea, then let him see how much water he brings back with it.” And in quality, the Hereafter is much better because every blessing there is free from any kind of sorrow or worry, whereas no blessing of this world is like that, and it is so much better that no one can describe its excellence, nor can it come into anyone’s imagination. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, Allah Almighty says: [ أَعْدَدْتُ لِعِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحِيْنَ مَا لَا عَيْنٌ رَأَتْ وَلَا أُذُنٌ سَمِعَتْ وَلَا خَطَرَ عَلٰی قَلْبِ بَشَرٍ فَاقْرَؤُوْا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ : «{ فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّاۤ اُخْفِيَ لَهُمْ مِّنْ قُرَّةِ اَعْيُنٍ }» ] [ السجدۃ : ۱۷] [ بخاري، بدء الخلق، باب ما جاء في صفۃ الجنۃ و أنھا مخلوقۃ : ۳۲۴۴ ] “I have prepared for My righteous servants that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has ever conceived.” If you wish, recite this verse: “No soul knows what comfort of the eyes has been hidden for them .”

6.-1 That is, as a result of denial, soon Our punishment will seize them, which they consider impossible and mock at. This punishment is possible in this world as well, as many nations have been destroyed; otherwise, in the Hereafter, there will be absolutely no escape from it. It is not said ماکانوا عنہ معرضین, but rather ماکانوا بہ یستھزؤن, because mockery not only entails aversion and denial, but is also a greater crime than aversion and denial. Fath al-Qadeer.

60. Whatever you have been given is only the enjoyment and adornment of the worldly life, but what is with Allah is better [83] and more lasting. Will you not then understand?

[83]
Fourth Answer: Livelihood is Merely a Provision for the Perishable Life:

This is also, in fact, an answer to their objection. That is, you are boasting over the provisions of livelihood at this time, and due to the fear of losing them, you are not willing to accept Islam. The maximum duration of these is until your death, whereas even before your death, these can be taken away from you. As a result of your rebellion, you will have to suffer eternal punishment after death. On the contrary, if you accept faith, there is no reason for these blessings to be taken away from you; however, some difficulties and hardships may certainly arise. But in return for them, you will receive reward, which will be eternal and everlasting. Now, keeping both these aspects in view, think carefully and decide for yourselves.