Name of the Surah
This surah is called At-Takathur, rivalry, and competition, because it begins by alhakumu At-Takathur, namely, the rivalry diverts you.
In other words, o people, competing to acquire and gather wealth in the life of this world diverts you from sincere working for the lasting life of the Hereafter. Surah At-Takathur was revealed in Makkah. It contains eight ayat.
Relationship between Surah At-Takathur and Surah Al-Qari’ah
Surah At-Takathur comes after surah Al-Qari’ah according to the written copy of the noble Quran, al-Mushaf. Surah Al-Qari’ah refers to some horrors of the Day of Judgment. It also mentions the recompense of the good-doers and evildoers. Then, surah At-Takathur mentions causes that lead to entering Hell and suffering its severe punishment, of which are being occupied with accumulating pleasures of the life of this world and forgetting to work and prepare for the lasting of the Hereafter.
In other words, an imbalanced attitude that makes one focus on attaining the pleasures of the life of this world to the extent he ignores preparing for the Hereafter causes loss.
Most important Topics Discussed in Surah At-Takathur
• Referring to the fact that people usually occupy themselves with attaining the pleasures of the life of this world until death comes to them. On the other hand, those whom Allah has mercy on, have a balanced attitude to the life of this world. They work for it and enjoy its pleasures, but at the same time, they prepare themselves for the Hereafter by believing in Allah’s Oneness and performing righteous deeds for Allah’s sake.
• The surah mentions that people will be recompensed for their deeds on the Day of Judgment, good or evil.
• The surah condemns rivalry for acquiring enjoyments of the life of this world and ignoring working for the Hereafter.
• Hell will be seen on the Day of Judgment and people will be asked about the pleasures they have in the life of this world.
English Translation of Surah At-Takathur
Surah At-Takathur, Revealed in Makkah, Contains 8 Ayat
Bism-Allah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim
In the Name of Allah, the Giver of Mercy, the Most Merciful
102:1 The rivalry diverts you
102:2 until you visit the graves.
102:3 No! You shall know.
102:4 Again, no! You shall know.
102:5 No! If you had the knowledge of certainty,
102:6 you shall surely see Hell.
102:7 Again, you shall surely see it with the eye of certainty.
102:8 Then you shall surely be asked about the pleasure.
Tafsir
102:1 The rivalry diverts you
102:2 until you visit the graves.
O people, The rivalry over accumulating wealth and enjoyments of the life of this world diverts you away from preparing for the lasting life of the Hereafter until death comes to you. You die in such a state of distraction, be buried in your graves, and remain therein alone until the Day of Judgment occurs.
The ayah says ‘you visit the graves’ to refer to death that is because the dead comes to his grave like a visitor. He remains there for some time. Then, he will be brought out of his grave for reckoning and recompense on the Day of Judgment.
In other words, the dead stays in his grave temporally until the time that Allah, Exalted be He, has appointed for resurrection on the Day of Judgment comes. Moreover, the ayah is evidence confirming the torment of the grave because Allah mentions that those who extremely occupied themselves with the life of this world will know what will happen to them after death and being buried in their graves.
Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him] warned of coveting for attaining the pleasures of the life of this world to the extent that one forgets being prepared for the Hereafter. Abdul Allah Ibn ash-Shakhir, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘I came to Prophet Muhammad and he was reciting, [102:1 The rivalry diverts you until you visit the graves.] Then, he said, ‘Son of Adam says, ‘My wealth, my wealth.’ Do you know that you own of your wealth that you give as charity, eat and consume, and wear and wear out?’’ [Sahih Muslim]
Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Messenger Muhammad peace be upon him said, ‘Three things follow the dead. Two of which will return and only one remains with him. His family and wealth will return and his deeds will remain with him.’ [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
It is permissible to visit the graves. One salutes the dead and invokes Allah for him asking Him to forgive his sins and have mercy on him. Moreover, visiting the graves makes one remember the Hereafter and be prepared for it by performing righteous deeds for Allah’s sake.
102:3 No! You shall know.
102:4 Again, no! You shall know.
O people, do not covetously occupy yourselves with attaining the pleasures of the life of this world and ignore working for the lasting life of the Hereafter. You will know the outcome of your extreme distraction from working for the Hereafter when you come out of your graves for reckoning on the Day of Judgment. Again, do not act in such a manner, which will cause you loss on the Day of Judgment.
‘You shall know’ is repeated to express affirmation, strong condemnation, and warning. This method is used by the Arabs to convey reprimand and censure.
102:5 No! If you had the knowledge of certainty,
O people, you should not be distracted by amassing wealth to enjoy in this world instead of working for the Hereafter. If you had certain knowledge that Allah will resurrect you after death for reckoning on the Day of Judgment, you would not occupy yourselves with heaping up wealth and forget to work for the Hereafter.
The intended meaning is to strongly condemn those who extremely occupy themselves with collecting wealth and enjoying the pleasures of this world. Those people are usually arrogant. When they are reminded of working for the Hereafter, they will haughtily say that they do not need admonition and claim that they know the right path and how to manage their affairs properly. If they had certain knowledge, they would not compete to gather enjoyment of this world and forget to prepare for the Hereafter.
There are three degrees of knowledge: 1) certain knowledge, which is acquired by having proofs and evidence. 2) the eye of certainty, namely, knowledge, which is acquired by seeing something with one’s eyes. 3) true knowledge, which is acquired by first-hand experience of something. For example, one knows that the holy mosque in Makkah exists by having proof and evidence, which is certain knowledge. When he travels to it and sees it with his eyes, he acquires the eye of certainty. Finally, when he enters it and prays therein, he will have knowledge acquired by first-hand experience.
102:6 you shall surely see Hell.
102:7 Again, you shall surely see it with the eye of certainty.
102:8 Then you shall surely be asked about the pleasure.
O people, you shall surely see Hell in the Hereafter. Again, you shall surely see Hell in the Hereafter. Thus, beware of disobeying Allah in the life of this world and being distracted by enjoying its pleasures, and forget to prepare for the Hereafter. You shall certainly see Hell with your eyes and know how severe its torment is. Then, you shall surely be asked about the pleasures of the life of the present life that distracted you from working for the Hereafter. You will be asked about all the blessings that Allah has given you in the present life. You will be asked about the good health, wealth, free time, dwelling, etc. that Allah, out of His bounty, has given you to use them for obeying His commands, avoiding His prohibition, and working for the Hereafter.
In sum, man will be asked about all blessings that Allah has given him in the life of this world, how he gained them, and how he used them.
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated, ‘Abu Bakr and Umar were sitting, then Prophet Muhammad, peace upon him, came to them. He said, ‘Why are you sitting here?’ They said, ‘Hunger.’ Prophet Muhammad said, ‘By the One, Who has sent me with the truth, nothing has made me come out of my house except hunger.’ Then, they set forth until they entered the house of one of the believers among the resident of al-Madinah. His wife welcomed them. Then, Prophet Muhammad said to her, ‘Where is your husband?’ She said, ‘He went to bring us water from a well.’ Then, her husband came, carrying his water-skin. He said, ‘Welcome! No one is visited by anyone better than those who have visited me today.’ Then, he hung his water-skin on a palm tree branch, and brought them some dates on a branch of a palm tree. Prophet Muhammad said to him, ‘Why have not you brought some of the dates?’ The man said, ‘I would like that you should choose for yourselves.’ Then, he brought out his razor. Thereupon, Prophet Muhammad said to him, ‘Do not slaughter your milch sheep.’ However, he slaughtered it and they ate therefrom. Then, Prophet Muhammad said, ‘You shall surely be asked about his on the Day of Judgment. You came out of your houses and you were hungry. Then, you returned while you are full. This is the pleasure about which you shall be asked [Tafsir At-Tabari].’
Learned Lessons from Surah At-Takathur
• Warning of being occupied with the pleasures of the life of this world, and not preparing for the Hereafter by not performing righteous deeds for Allah’s sake.
• Warning of rivalry for attaining the pleasures of the life of this world and ignoring working for the Hereafter.
• On the Day of Judgment, those who ignore preparing for the Hereafter will know the evil outcomes of not performing righteous for Allah’s sake in the life of this world.
• It is permissible to visit the graves to invoke Allah for the dead and learn lessons from their end.
• To make the heart attentive, one should always do his best to obey Allah and frequently remember death.
• Confirming torment of the grave.
• On the Day of Judgment, Hell will be seen and the evildoers will suffer its severe torment.
• On the Day of Judgment, people will be asked about the pleasures they enjoyed in the life of this world.
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