سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 45
وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَٱخْتَلَطَ بِهِۦ نَبَاتُ ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحُ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا ﴿45﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And put forward to them the example of the life of this world: it is like the water (rain) which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green. But (later) it becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter. And Allâh is Able to do everything.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱضْرِبْ
wa-iḍ'rib
And present
لَهُم
lahum
to them
مَّثَلَ
mathala
the example
ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ
l-ḥayati
(of) the life
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
(of) the world
كَمَآءٍ
kamāin
like water
أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ
anzalnāhu
which We send down
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱلسَّمَآءِ
l-samāi
the sky
فَٱخْتَلَطَ
fa-ikh'talaṭa
then mingles
بِهِۦ
bihi
with it
نَبَاتُ
nabātu
(the) vegetation
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
(of) the earth
فَأَصْبَحَ
fa-aṣbaḥa
then becomes
هَشِيمًۭا
hashīman
dry stalks
تَذْرُوهُ
tadhrūhu
it (is) scattered
ٱلرِّيَـٰحُ ۗ
l-riyāḥu
(by) the winds
وَكَانَ
wakāna
And Allah
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
And Allah
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
كُلِّ
kulli
every
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
thing
مُّقْتَدِرًا
muq'tadiran
(is) All Able
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
And present to them the example of the life of this world: it is like water We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, then it becomes dry stubble which the winds scatter. And Allah has full power [41] over everything.
[41]
The Stages of Life: The Example of Worldly Life with Vegetation:
The example of worldly life is given with vegetation so that everyone can immediately understand it; otherwise, every living and non-living thing in this world, including vegetation, passes through these stages. When rain falls on the earth, vegetation grows, then it becomes large and lush. When it reaches its peak, it appears very pleasing to everyone. But after its rise, decline begins, and it starts to turn yellow. Now, even if this yellowed crop is watered as before, it will never regain its spring or greenness, because its period of decline has begun. Then the crop is harvested, and its final end is that the wind scatters its particles and fragments. The same is the case with man himself: he is born, then gradually youth comes to him, strength comes to him. At that time, he appears beautiful to everyone, and everything seems pleasant to him. But upon reaching a fixed limit, his height and strength, everything, stops. Then comes the time of old age, that is, the time of decline and deterioration. Now, even if he eats the best of foods, there will be no growth in him, nor will he be able to stop his decline, because Allah Almighty has set fixed measures for everything, and nothing can exceed them. In short, everything in this world is destined to decline; whatever has been created will surely perish. Therefore, one should never be arrogant about the wealth of this world or about this worldly life.
[41]
The Stages of Life: The Example of Worldly Life with Vegetation:
The example of worldly life is given with vegetation so that everyone can immediately understand it; otherwise, every living and non-living thing in this world, including vegetation, passes through these stages. When rain falls on the earth, vegetation grows, then it becomes large and lush. When it reaches its peak, it appears very pleasing to everyone. But after its rise, decline begins, and it starts to turn yellow. Now, even if this yellowed crop is watered as before, it will never regain its spring or greenness, because its period of decline has begun. Then the crop is harvested, and its final end is that the wind scatters its particles and fragments. The same is the case with man himself: he is born, then gradually youth comes to him, strength comes to him. At that time, he appears beautiful to everyone, and everything seems pleasant to him. But upon reaching a fixed limit, his height and strength, everything, stops. Then comes the time of old age, that is, the time of decline and deterioration. Now, even if he eats the best of foods, there will be no growth in him, nor will he be able to stop his decline, because Allah Almighty has set fixed measures for everything, and nothing can exceed them. In short, everything in this world is destined to decline; whatever has been created will surely perish. Therefore, one should never be arrogant about the wealth of this world or about this worldly life.
