سُوْرَةُ التَّكَاثُرِ
Surah At-Takaathur (102) — Ayah 1
أَلْهَىٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ ﴿1﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The mutual rivalry (for piling up of worldly things) diverts you,
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَلْهَىٰكُمُ
alhākumu
Diverts you
ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ
l-takāthuru
the competition to increase
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
Abu Mutarrif (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was reciting {’’ اَلْهٰىكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ ‘‘}. He said: [ يَقُوْلُ ابْنُ آدَمَ مَالِيْ، مَالِيْ، قَالَ وَهَلْ لَكَ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ! مِنْ مَّالِكَ إِلَّا مَا أَكَلْتَ فَأَفْنَيْتَ أَوْ لَبِسْتَ فَأَبْلَيْتَ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْتَ فَأَمْضَيْتَ؟ ] [ مسلم، الزھد والرقائق، باب الدنیا سجن للمؤمن : ۲۹۵۸ ] "The son of Adam says: 'My wealth, my wealth,' but O son of Adam! Of your wealth, only that is yours which you have eaten and consumed, or worn and worn out, or given in charity and sent ahead."
(Ayah 1) ➊ It is from {اَلْهٰىكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ: ’’أَلْهٰي يُلْهِيْ‘‘ ’’ لَهْوٌ‘‘}, which means "such attachment and interest in something that it makes one heedless of important things." {’’ التَّكَاثُرُ ‘‘ ’’ كَثْرَةٌ ‘‘} is a verbal noun from the form 'tafā'ul', which contains the meaning of mutual participation, i.e., the effort to acquire more than each other. Greed to acquire more than all others in wealth, children, status, and honor—in short, in every worldly thing—and then boasting over others after acquiring it.
➋ What is the limit of this greed? Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ لَوْ كَانَ لاِبْنِ آدَمَ وَادِيَانِ مِنْ مَّالٍ لاَبْتَغٰي ثَالِثًا، وَلاَ يَمْلَأُ جَوْفَ ابْنِ آدَمَ إِلاَّ التُّرَابُ، وَيَتُوْبُ اللّٰهُ عَلٰي مَنْ تَابَ ] [ بخاري، الرقاق، باب ما یتقی من فتنۃ المال: ۶۴۳۶ ] "If the son of Adam had two valleys full of wealth, he would seek a third valley, and nothing fills the belly of the son of Adam except dust, and Allah turns to whoever repents." The most harmful greed is for two things; the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [مَا ذِئْبَانِ جَائِعَانِ أُرْسِلاَ فِيْ غَنَمٍ بِأَفْسَدَ لَهَا مِنْ حِرْصِ الْمَرْءِ عَلَی الْمَالِ وَالشَّرَفِ لِدِيْنِهِ ] [ ترمذي، الزھد، باب حدیث ما ذئبان جائعان… : ۲۳۷۶، وصححہ الألباني ] "Two hungry wolves let loose among sheep do not cause as much damage as a man's greed for wealth and honor does to his religion."
➌ What does it make one heedless of? Of Allah's commands, His religion, and the Hereafter.
(Ayah 1) ➊ It is from {اَلْهٰىكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ: ’’أَلْهٰي يُلْهِيْ‘‘ ’’ لَهْوٌ‘‘}, which means "such attachment and interest in something that it makes one heedless of important things." {’’ التَّكَاثُرُ ‘‘ ’’ كَثْرَةٌ ‘‘} is a verbal noun from the form 'tafā'ul', which contains the meaning of mutual participation, i.e., the effort to acquire more than each other. Greed to acquire more than all others in wealth, children, status, and honor—in short, in every worldly thing—and then boasting over others after acquiring it.
➋ What is the limit of this greed? Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ لَوْ كَانَ لاِبْنِ آدَمَ وَادِيَانِ مِنْ مَّالٍ لاَبْتَغٰي ثَالِثًا، وَلاَ يَمْلَأُ جَوْفَ ابْنِ آدَمَ إِلاَّ التُّرَابُ، وَيَتُوْبُ اللّٰهُ عَلٰي مَنْ تَابَ ] [ بخاري، الرقاق، باب ما یتقی من فتنۃ المال: ۶۴۳۶ ] "If the son of Adam had two valleys full of wealth, he would seek a third valley, and nothing fills the belly of the son of Adam except dust, and Allah turns to whoever repents." The most harmful greed is for two things; the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [مَا ذِئْبَانِ جَائِعَانِ أُرْسِلاَ فِيْ غَنَمٍ بِأَفْسَدَ لَهَا مِنْ حِرْصِ الْمَرْءِ عَلَی الْمَالِ وَالشَّرَفِ لِدِيْنِهِ ] [ ترمذي، الزھد، باب حدیث ما ذئبان جائعان… : ۲۳۷۶، وصححہ الألباني ] "Two hungry wolves let loose among sheep do not cause as much damage as a man's greed for wealth and honor does to his religion."
➌ What does it make one heedless of? Of Allah's commands, His religion, and the Hereafter.
