سُوْرَةُ الشُّوْرٰي
Surah Ash-Shura (42) — Ayah 36
فَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَمَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ﴿36﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So whatever you have been given is but (a passing) enjoyment for this worldly life, but that which is with Allâh (Paradise) is better and more lasting for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) and put their trust in their Lord (concerning all of their affairs).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَمَآ
famā
So whatever
أُوتِيتُم
ūtītum
you are given
مِّن
min
of
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
a thing
فَمَتَـٰعُ
famatāʿu
(is) but a passing enjoyment
ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ
l-ḥayati
(for) the life
ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ
l-dun'yā
(of) the world
وَمَا
wamā
But what
عِندَ
ʿinda
(is) with
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(is) better
وَأَبْقَىٰ
wa-abqā
and more lasting
لِلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
for those who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believe
وَعَلَىٰ
waʿalā
and upon
رَبِّهِمْ
rabbihim
their Lord
يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
yatawakkalūna
put (their) trust
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.
(Ayah 36) ➊ {فَمَاۤ اُوْتِيْتُمْ مِّنْ شَيْءٍ فَمَتَاعُ الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا: ’’مَتَاعٌ‘‘} That which is used for benefit, a thing for use that is quickly exhausted. After mentioning the evidences of His oneness, power, and sovereignty—such as sending down rain for His servants, granting them sustenance according to wisdom, creating the heavens and the earth, spreading countless living beings within them, the sailing of ships like mountains in the seas, and the conditions they encounter—Allah Almighty then mentioned the insignificance and transience of the provisions and adornments of worldly life. This is because the beauty and adornment of the world itself become an obstacle for a person to reflect upon the evidences. When he becomes aware of its reality and it becomes insignificant in his eyes, he will have the opportunity to turn his attention to the Hereafter and will also reflect upon the evidences.
➋ Whatever a person is given in this world, no matter how much or how valuable it is, there is nothing among it over which a person should become arrogant and heedless of the Hereafter, because firstly, it remains in his use for a very short time, and then he leaves everything behind and departs empty-handed from here. Besides this, no matter how vast his property or wealth may be, in practice, only a small portion of it comes into his use. O human! Out of this vast property, only this is for you: [ مَا أَكَلْتَ فَأَفْنَيْتَ أَوْ لَبِسْتَ فَأَبْلَيْتَ ] [ مسلم، الزھد و الرقائق، باب : ۲۹۵۸ ] “That which you have eaten and finished, or that which you have worn and worn out.” A person who is aware of the reality of such a perishable thing can never waste his precious life in its pursuit. See also Surah Ar-Ra’d (26).
➌ {وَ مَا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ خَيْرٌ وَّ اَبْقٰى:} The wealth and blessings that are with Allah are, in every respect, better than the provisions of this world and are also lasting and eternal.
➍ { لِلَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَلٰى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُوْنَ:} From here, the qualities of those people are mentioned who will be deserving of the blessings to be received in the Hereafter from Allah Almighty. The very first quality among them is {’’ اٰمَنُوْا ‘‘} in the past tense, and {’’ يَتَوَكَّلُوْنَ ‘‘} in the present tense, meaning that they have already believed with full understanding and their hearts have attained complete conviction in Allah Almighty, His angels, His messengers, His books, His decree, and His Day of Recompense. Now their state is such that in all their affairs, they always rely only on their Lord; they neither hope for benefit from anyone else nor fear any harm from anyone else. {’’ يَتَوَكَّلُوْنَ ‘‘} The present tense indicates continuity.
➋ Whatever a person is given in this world, no matter how much or how valuable it is, there is nothing among it over which a person should become arrogant and heedless of the Hereafter, because firstly, it remains in his use for a very short time, and then he leaves everything behind and departs empty-handed from here. Besides this, no matter how vast his property or wealth may be, in practice, only a small portion of it comes into his use. O human! Out of this vast property, only this is for you: [ مَا أَكَلْتَ فَأَفْنَيْتَ أَوْ لَبِسْتَ فَأَبْلَيْتَ ] [ مسلم، الزھد و الرقائق، باب : ۲۹۵۸ ] “That which you have eaten and finished, or that which you have worn and worn out.” A person who is aware of the reality of such a perishable thing can never waste his precious life in its pursuit. See also Surah Ar-Ra’d (26).
➌ {وَ مَا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ خَيْرٌ وَّ اَبْقٰى:} The wealth and blessings that are with Allah are, in every respect, better than the provisions of this world and are also lasting and eternal.
➍ { لِلَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَلٰى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُوْنَ:} From here, the qualities of those people are mentioned who will be deserving of the blessings to be received in the Hereafter from Allah Almighty. The very first quality among them is {’’ اٰمَنُوْا ‘‘} in the past tense, and {’’ يَتَوَكَّلُوْنَ ‘‘} in the present tense, meaning that they have already believed with full understanding and their hearts have attained complete conviction in Allah Almighty, His angels, His messengers, His books, His decree, and His Day of Recompense. Now their state is such that in all their affairs, they always rely only on their Lord; they neither hope for benefit from anyone else nor fear any harm from anyone else. {’’ يَتَوَكَّلُوْنَ ‘‘} The present tense indicates continuity.
