Present to them the example of the worldly life. It is like water that We pour down from the sky. Then, earth’s vegetation mingles with it, and then it becomes dry, broken pieces, which the winds scatter. Allah is ever capable of doing all things.
Wealth and children are the adornment of the worldly life, and the everlasting righteous deeds deserve the best reward from your Lord, and are the best desired hope. [Surah al-Kahf: 45-46]
Tafsir
The True Nature of the Worldly Life
The story of the owner of the two gardens was a short example, showing the fact that everything in this life will perish. The ayat explicitly cite the example of the worldly life, showing that it will perish.
The following ayah shows that citing the example of the worldly life denotes its insignificance and impermanence. It is connected with the story of the disbelievers who refused to sit with the poor believers. It is cited to show the swift vanishing of the worldly life enjoyment.
Present to them the example of the worldly life. It is like water that We pour down from the sky. Then, earth’s vegetation mingles with it, and then it becomes dry, broken pieces, which the winds scatter. Allah is ever capable of doing all things.[45]
O Messenger! Cite to the disbelievers the example of the worldly life. It is, with its beauty and attractiveness, like rain that is poured down from the sky by the ability of Allah. Then the plants of the earth mingle with the rain, grow, and become strong and appealing. Then the plants will become dry, and broken pieces that the winds will scatter here and there.
Verily, Allah is ever capable of doing all things, among which are creating and annihilating things.
Then the ayat present the real value of wealth and children.
Wealth and children are the adornment of the worldly life, and the everlasting righteous deeds deserve the best reward from your Lord, and are the best desired hope. [46]
Wealth and children are enjoyment of the worldly life that people love. That is because wealth grants benefit and comfort, and children give power and protection. However, righteous deeds are the best everlasting things that their reward will remain for their doer in the Hereafter. They are also the best things that a person can hope for as they are the things by means of which a person can attain what he hopes for in the worldly life and the Hereafter, i.e. entering Paradise and enjoying its happiness. On the other hand, wealth and children are tests that usually distract man from what pleases Allah, Exalted is He.
The scholars mention many opinions regarding specifying the exact meaning of the righteous deeds. They say that they are glorifying Allah, the five prayers, obeying Allah, good speech, etc. After mentioning the opinions of the scholars, imam ibn Jarir at-Tabari said, ‘The most correct opinion on the meaning of the everlasting righteous deeds is that they are all good deeds because their reward materializes in the hereafter. ’
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