Tafheem ul Quran

Surah 3 Ali 'Imran, Ayat 14-15

زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوٰتِ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ وَالۡبَـنِيۡنَ وَالۡقَنَاطِيۡرِ الۡمُقَنۡطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالۡفِضَّةِ وَالۡخَـيۡلِ الۡمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالۡاَنۡعَامِ وَالۡحَـرۡثِ​ؕ ذٰ لِكَ مَتَاعُ الۡحَيٰوةِ الدُّنۡيَا ​ۚ وَاللّٰهُ عِنۡدَهٗ حُسۡنُ الۡمَاٰبِ‏ ﴿3:14﴾ قُلۡ اَؤُنَبِّئُكُمۡ بِخَيۡرٍ مِّنۡ ذٰ لِكُمۡ​ؕ لِلَّذِيۡنَ اتَّقَوۡا عِنۡدَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنّٰتٌ تَجۡرِىۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِهَا الۡاَنۡهٰرُ خٰلِدِيۡنَ فِيۡهَا وَاَزۡوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ وَّرِضۡوَانٌ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ بَصِيۡرٌۢ بِالۡعِبَادِ​ۚ‏ ﴿3:15﴾

(3:14) Men are naturally tempted by the lure of women, children, treasures of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle and plantations. These are the enjoyments in the life of this world; but with Allah lies a goodly abode to return to. (3:15) Say: 'Shall I tell you of things better than these? For the God-fearing there are, with their Lord, gardens beneath which rivers flow; there they will abide for ever, will have spouses of stainless purity11 as companions, and will enjoy the good pleasure of Allah.' Allah thoroughly observes His servants.12


Notes

11. For explanation see (Surah 2, n. 27) above.

12. This shows that God neither showers His favours on people arbitrarily nor makes casual and superficial judgements. He knows full well the deeds and intentions of people. He also knows who merits His rewards and who does not.