Surah 29. Al-'Ankabut

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Verses [Section]: 1-13[1], 14-22 [2], 23-30 [3], 31-44 [4], 45-51 [5], 52-63 [6], 64-69 [7]

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Quran Text of Verse 64-6929. Al-'Ankabut Page 404وَ مَاAnd notهٰذِهِ(is) thisالْحَیٰوةُlifeالدُّنْیَاۤ(of) the worldاِلَّاbutلَهْوٌamusementوَّ لَعِبٌ ؕand playوَ اِنَّAnd indeedالدَّارَthe Homeالْاٰخِرَةَ(of) the Hereafterلَهِیَsurely itالْحَیَوَانُ ۘ(is) the lifeلَوْif onlyكَانُوْاtheyیَعْلَمُوْنَ know فَاِذَاAnd whenرَكِبُوْاthey embarkفِی[in]الْفُلْكِthe shipدَعَوُاthey callاللّٰهَAllahمُخْلِصِیْنَ(being) sincereلَهُto Himالدِّیْنَ ۚ۬(in) the religionفَلَمَّاBut whenنَجّٰىهُمْHe delivers themاِلَیtoالْبَرِّthe landاِذَاbeholdهُمْtheyیُشْرِكُوْنَۙassociate partners (with Him) لِیَكْفُرُوْاSo that they may denyبِمَاۤ[in] whatاٰتَیْنٰهُمْ ۙۚWe have given themوَ لِیَتَمَتَّعُوْا ۥand they may enjoy (themselves)فَسَوْفَBut soonیَعْلَمُوْنَ they will know اَوَ لَمْDo notیَرَوْاthey seeاَنَّاthat Weجَعَلْنَاhave madeحَرَمًاa Sanctuaryاٰمِنًاsecureوَّ یُتَخَطَّفُwhile are being taken awayالنَّاسُthe peopleمِنْaround themحَوْلِهِمْ ؕaround themاَفَبِالْبَاطِلِThen do in the falsehoodیُؤْمِنُوْنَthey believeوَ بِنِعْمَةِand in (the) Favorاللّٰهِ(of) Allahیَكْفُرُوْنَ they disbelieve وَ مَنْAnd whoاَظْلَمُ(is) more unjustمِمَّنِthan (he) whoافْتَرٰیinventsعَلَیagainstاللّٰهِAllahكَذِبًاa lieاَوْorكَذَّبَdeniesبِالْحَقِّthe truthلَمَّاwhenجَآءَهٗ ؕit has come to himاَلَیْسَIs there notفِیْinجَهَنَّمَHellمَثْوًیan abodeلِّلْكٰفِرِیْنَ for the disbelievers وَ الَّذِیْنَAnd those whoجَاهَدُوْاstriveفِیْنَاfor UsلَنَهْدِیَنَّهُمْWe will surely guide themسُبُلَنَا ؕ(to) Our waysوَ اِنَّAnd indeedاللّٰهَAllahلَمَعَsurely (is) withالْمُحْسِنِیْنَ۠the good-doers

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Translation of Verse 64-69

64. This life of the world is but a pastime and a game. Verily the abode of the Hereafter that is (the true) life, if they only knew it !¹¹⁰

65. When they sail in the ship they invoke Allah, making their submissiveness pure for Him only,¹¹¹ but when He brings them safe to land, at once they ascribe partners to Him,

66. So that they may show ingratitude for what We have given them, and that they may enjoy (the life of this world).

67. Do they not see that We have made a safe sanctuary, while all around them men are carried off by force?¹¹² Do they then believe in falsehood and disbelieve in the bounty of Allah?

68. And who is more wicked than the man who invents a lie about Allah, or denies the truth when it comes to him?¹¹³ Is not there a home in Hell for disbelievers?

69. Those who strive for Us,¹¹⁴ We will surely guide them to Our paths.¹¹⁵ Allah is with the righteous.¹¹⁶

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Commentary

110. The real and the everlasting life is that of the Hereafter, where the blessings are constant, the spring is ever present and the comforts and pleasures are unending. As against this the life of this world is temporary, whose benefits and pleasures are lowly. But the attractions of the worldly pleasures is such that man’s heart is satisfied, and he is so much absorbed in its benefits and pleasures that he forgets himself. In the Hereafter when he will open his eyes he will realise that the real life is the life of the Hereafter, and the life, which he spent in the world, losing himself in its benefits, luxuries and comforts, was from this aspect merely a pastime and sport. In view of this reality man should make the Hereafter, and not this world as his goal. He should live in the world in such a way that he should achieve success in the next world.

This insignificance of the worldly life is from the aspect of its material benefits and outer glitter compared to the life in the Hereafter, otherwise according to the clarification of Qur’an the life of the world is the life of trial, and the man who accepts faith and lives righteous life, he collects the great wealth of everlasting virtues and this is his great achievement.

111. For explanation, please see Surah Yunus, Note No.42.

112. For explanations, please see Surah Qasas, Note No. 111.

113. For explanation, please see Surah An’am, Note No.40.

114. For explanation, please see Surah Ankaboot, Note No.8.

115. Means paths of virtue and good. Whoever undergoes sufferings and tribulation in the cause of Allah, He opens for him paths of good and righteousness, therefore, excellent qualities develop in him, he becomes courageous, he is prepared to face falsehood bravely, he gets insights and wisdom, his capabilities are nourished, and by the grace of God he goes on achieving blessings after blessings, and ultimately meets his Creator.

116. By righteous here is meant especially those who strive in the cause of Allah, undergoing in life difficulties and sufferings for His Sake, and sticking to His religion and for its propagation facing all kinds of difficulties. For such virtuous people Allah has given the glad tidings of His companionship and nearness, and those who get Allah’s nearness, they will obviously be helped at every step, and he will definitely reach the goal of success.