17. In view of the prevailing circumstances and situations the Muslims are being admonished that they must not become captives of love for their wealth and children to such an extent that they may forget to remember Allah. This makes it clear that what drives the hypocrites on a wrong path is this very excessive love for wealth and children. When man busies himself only in earning money and when his earnestness to brighten the worldly future of his children deepens to such an extent that they forget Almighty Allah totally, they lose all interest in prayers (salat-namaz), forget their religious responsibilities and care little for the Hereafter, they get badly entangled only in the worldly affairs and never find the way to real bliss and success.

18. Spending in the way of Allah, provided it is sincere, increases love of Allah and prevents man from becoming a worshipper of wealth.

After commenting upon the condition of the hypocrites, the believers are being advised to offer Sadaqah and infaq (spending in the Path of, for the cause of Allah). This is the most effective remedy which cures ailments of the heart and strengthens Iman (Faith).

19. This is the pasteurization of the condition of a man who sees his death before his eyes. At that moment of departure from this world, man feels that the wealth which he hoarded and held by teeth even ignoring his religious responsibilities is now not going to serve any purpose for him. Then, because of this strong feeling, he longs: O my Lord! Had you given me a little more reprieve, I would have spent in your cause and would have become one of the good-doers. In other words, as soon as the signs of death appear, man feels very strongly that the earthly world is insignificant and the worldly wealth is totally useless and so he longs to spend his belongings in the way of Allah. But what is the sense in this feeling at the last moment of departure from the temporary abode?! Therefore, this Ayah warns that man must fulfill his wealth -related responsibilities prescribed by the Shariat well before the moment of death, spend his money generously by for Allah’s pleasure and put himself on the straight path of goodness.

Here the ‘Sadaqah’ is not in the narrow sense (like in Urdu) of giving something to a faqir but it is in the larger Quranic sense. It includes all that expense which is made with a view to please Allah and to be nearer to HIM. It includes zakaat as well as all other obligatory and voluntary donations. It also includes the spending for raising high the Word of Allah.

This ayah also gives a hint that ‘sadaqah’ and ‘infaaq’ turns man more and more toward good deeds and it makes it easier for man to be a doer of good. So, using this golden prescription, man must make himself righteous. Otherwise the death of a Muslim who is not righteous is also an unhappy and sorrowful death.

20. That is, be fully aware that it will be totally useless to repent at the last moment of death. The time of life allotted by Allah to man is never going to be extended even by a split second. Therefore, do make provision for the eternal life which is to follow death.