سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 14
زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْبَنِينَ وَٱلْقَنَـٰطِيرِ ٱلْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ ٱلذَّهَبِ وَٱلْفِضَّةِ وَٱلْخَيْلِ ٱلْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ وَٱلْحَرْثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسْنُ ٱلْمَـَٔابِ ﴿14﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Beautified for men is the love 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 Allâh has the excellent return (Paradise with flowing rivers) with Him.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
زُيِّنَ
zuyyina
Beautified
لِلنَّاسِ
lilnnāsi
for mankind
حُبُّ
ḥubbu
(is) love
ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ
l-shahawāti
(of) the (things they) desire
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلنِّسَآءِ
l-nisāi
[the] women
وَٱلْبَنِينَ
wal-banīna
and [the] sons
وَٱلْقَنَـٰطِيرِ
wal-qanāṭīri
and [the] heaps
ٱلْمُقَنطَرَةِ
l-muqanṭarati
[the] stored up
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلذَّهَبِ
l-dhahabi
[the] gold
وَٱلْفِضَّةِ
wal-fiḍati
and [the] silver
وَٱلْخَيْلِ
wal-khayli
and [the] horses
ٱلْمُسَوَّمَةِ
l-musawamati
[the] branded
وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ
wal-anʿāmi
and [the] cattle
وَٱلْحَرْثِ ۗ
wal-ḥarthi
and [the] tilled land
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
مَتَـٰعُ
matāʿu
(is) provision
ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ
l-ḥayati
(of) life
ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ
l-dun'yā
(of) the world
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
but Allah
عِندَهُۥ
ʿindahu
with Him
حُسْنُ
ḥus'nu
(is an) excellent
ٱلْمَـَٔابِ
l-maābi
[the] abode to return
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
14. 1. By "shahawat" here is meant "mushtahayat" (desirable things), that is, those things which are naturally desirable and liked by humans; therefore, inclination towards them and their love is not disliked, provided it remains within moderation and within the boundaries of Shariah. Their adornment is also a test from Allah. The mention of women comes first because this is the greatest need of every adult human and also the most desirable. The Prophet ﷺ himself said, "Women and perfume have been made beloved to me." Similarly, the Prophet ﷺ declared a righteous woman to be the best possession of this world. Therefore, if love for her does not exceed the boundaries of Shariah, she is the best companion in life and provision for the Hereafter; otherwise, this very woman becomes the greatest trial for a man. The Messenger ﷺ said, "Of the trials that will appear after me, the greatest trial for men will be women." Similarly, there is love for sons; if the purpose is to increase the strength of Muslims and the survival and multiplication of the generation, then it is praiseworthy, otherwise blameworthy. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Marry a woman who is very loving and bears many children, for I will boast of your numbers before other nations on the Day of Judgment." From this verse, the rejection of monasticism and the rejection of the movement for family planning is also proven. The purpose of wealth and riches is to establish livelihood, maintain family ties, give charity and spend on affairs, and to avoid begging, so that Allah's pleasure is attained; then its love is also absolutely desirable, otherwise blameworthy. The purpose of horses is preparation for jihad; the purpose of other animals is to use them for farming and carrying loads, and to obtain produce from the land—if so, all these are desirable. But if the purpose is merely to earn worldly gains, then to boast and show arrogance over it, and to live a life of luxury while being heedless of the remembrance of Allah, then all these beneficial things will become a calamity for him. Treasures, that is, abundance and plenty of gold, silver, and wealth; and those horses that are left to graze in the pasture or prepared for jihad, or marked, upon which a sign or number is placed for distinction (Fath al-Qadeer and Ibn Kathir).
