The Life Of This World

THIS WORLD IS NOT CREATED FOR NOTHING

We did not create heaven and earth and everything in between them as a game. If We had desired to have some amusement, We would have derived it from Our Presence, but We did not do that. (Qur'an, 21:16-17)

THIS WORLD IS A PLACE OF TEST

Every self will taste death. We test you with both good and evil as a trial. And you will be returned to Us. (Qur'an, 21:35)

Do people imagine that they will be left to say, 'We believe,' and will not be tested? We tested those before them so that Allah would know the truthful and would know the liars. (Qur'an, 29:2-3)

You will be tested in your wealth and in yourselves and you will hear many abusive words from those given the Book before you and from those who are idolaters. But if you are steadfast and guard against evil, that is the most resolute course to take. (Qur'an, 3:186)

We will test you until We know the true fighters among you and those who are steadfast and test what is reported of you. (Qur'an, 47:31)

We will test you with a certain amount of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and life and fruits. But give good news to the steadfast: (Qur'an, 2:155)

Or did you suppose that you would enter the Garden without facing the same as those who came before you? Poverty and illness afflicted them and they were shaken to the point that the Messenger and those who believed with him said, 'When is Allah's help coming?' Be assured that Allah's help is very near. (Qur'an, 2:214)

We made everything on the earth adornment for it so that We could test them to see whose actions are the best. (Qur'an, 18:7)

We created man from a mingled drop to test him, and We made him hearing and seeing. (Qur'an, 76:2)

He Who created death and life to test which of you is best in action. He is the Almighty, the Ever-Forgiving. (Qur'an, 67:2)

THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD IS A DELUSION

Mankind! Allah's promise is true. Do not let the life of this world delude you and do not let the Deluder delude you about Allah. (Qur'an, 35:5)

Restrain yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, desiring His face. Do not turn your eyes from them, desiring the (delusive) attractions of this world. And do not obey someone whose heart We have made neglectful of Our remembrance and who follows his own whims and desires and whose life has transgressed all bounds. (Qur'an, 18:28)

Mankind! Have fear of your Lord and fear a day when no father will be able to atone for his son, or son for his father, in any way. Allah's promise is true. So do not let the life of this world delude you and do not let the Deluder delude you concerning Allah. (Qur'an, 31:33)

THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD IS SHORT
AND TEMPORARY

Make a metaphor for them of the life of this world. It is like water which We send down from the sky and the plants of the earth combine with it but then become dry chaff scattered by the winds. Allah has absolute power over everything. (Qur'an, 18:45)

Have they not reflected within themselves? Allah did not create the heavens and the earth and everything between them except with truth and for a fixed term. Yet many people reject the meeting with their Lord. (Qur'an, 30:8)

The metaphor of the life of this world is that of water which We send down from the sky, and which then mingles with the plants of the earth to provide food for both people and animals. Then, when the earth is at its loveliest and takes on its fairest guise and its people think they have it under their control, Our command comes upon it by night or day and We reduce it to dried-out stubble, as though it had not been flourishing just the day before! In this way We make Our Signs clear for people who reflect. (Qur'an, 10:24)

Do you not see those who were told: 'Hold back from fighting but perform prayer and give alms'? Then when fighting is prescribed for them, a group of them fear people as Allah should be feared, or even more than that. They say, 'Our Lord, why have you prescribed fighting for us? If only You would give us just a little more time!' Say, 'The enjoyment of this world is very brief. The hereafter is better for those who guard against evil. You will not be wronged by so much as the smallest speck.' (Qur'an, 4:77)

THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD IS MERELY
A GAME AND A DIVERSION

The life of this world is nothing but a game and a diversion. The abode of the hereafter—that is truly Life if they only knew. (Qur'an, 29:64)

To mankind the love of worldly appetites is painted in glowing colours: women and children, and heaped-up mounds of gold and silver, and horses with fine markings, and livestock and fertile farmland. All that is merely the enjoyment of the life of this world. The best homecoming is in the presence of Allah. (Qur'an, 3:14)

The life of this world is merely a game and a diversion. If you believe and guard against evil, He will pay you your wages and not ask you for all your wealth. (Qur'an, 47:36)

Abandon those who have turned their religion into a game and a diversion and who have been deluded by the life of this world. Remind by it lest a person is delivered up to destruction for what he has earned with no protector or intercessor besides Allah. Were he to offer every kind of compensation, it would not be accepted from him. Such people are delivered up to destruction for what they have earned. They will have scalding water to drink and a painful punishment because they did not believe. (Qur'an, 6:70)

Know that the life of this world is merely a game and a diversion and ostentation and a cause of boasting among yourselves and trying to outdo one another in wealth and children: like the plant-growth after rain which delights the cultivators, but then it withers and you see it turning yellow, and then it becomes broken stubble.In the hereafter there is terrible punishment but also forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure. The life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion. (Qur'an, 57:20)

THE UNBELIEVERS PREFER THE LIFE
OF THIS WORLD TO THE HEREAFTER

These people love this fleeting world and have put the thought of a Momentous Day behind their backs. (Qur'an, 76:27)

As for those who do not expect to meet Us and are content with the life of this world and at rest in it, and those who are heedless of Our Signs, (Qur'an, 10:7)

Allah expands provision to anyone He wills and restricts it. They rejoice in the life of this world. Yet the life of this world, compared to the hereafter, is only fleeting enjoyment. (Qur'an, 13:26)

That is because they prefer the life of this world to the hereafter and because Allah does not guide unbelievers. (Qur'an, 16:107)

No indeed! But you love this fleeting world and you disregard the hereafter. (Qur'an, 75:20-21)

THE UNBELIEVERS CONSIDER
THE BLESSINGS OF THIS WORLD
A MEANS OF BOASTING

Fierce competition for this world distracted you until you went down to the graves. (Qur'an, 102:1-2)

THE UNBELIEVERS ASCRIBE THEIR WEALTH
AND CHILDREN AS PARTNERS TO ALLAH

Know that your wealth and children are a trial and that there is an immense reward with Allah. (Qur'an, 8:28)

Say: 'If your fathers or your sons or your brothers or your wives or your tribe, or any wealth you have acquired, or any business you fear may slump, or any house which pleases you, are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His Way, then wait until Allah brings about His command. Allah does not guide people who are deviators.' (Qur'an, 9:24)

Wealth and sons are the embellishment of the life of this world. But, in your Lord's sight, right actions which are lasting bring a better reward and are a better basis for hope. (Qur'an, 18:46)

THE UNBELIEVERS SUPPOSE THEIR WEALTH WILL SAVE THEM
FROM PUNISHMENT IN THE HEREAFTER

The Companions of the Ramparts will call out to men they recognise by their mark, saying, 'What you amassed was of no use to you, nor was your arrogance. (Qur'an, 7:48)

We never sent a warner into any city without the affluent people in it saying, 'We reject what you have been sent with.' They also said, 'We have more wealth and children. We are not going to be punished.' Say: 'My Lord expands the provision of anyone He wills or restricts it. But the majority of mankind do not know it.' (Qur'an, 34:34-36)

THE UNBELIEVERS WILL SEE THAT THEIR WEALTH
WILL NOT RESCUE THEM IN THE HEREAFTER

But as for him who is given his Book in his left hand, he will say, 'If only I had not been given my Book and had not known about my Reckoning! If only death had really been the end! My wealth has been of no use to me. My power has vanished.' (Qur'an, 69:25-29)

As for those who desire the life of this world and its finery, We will give them full payment in it for their actions. They will not be deprived here of their due. (Qur'an, 11:15)

But such people will have nothing in the hereafter but the Fire. What they achieved here will come to nothing. What they did will prove to be null and void. (Qur'an, 11:16)

WEALTH HAS NO MERIT IN ALLAH'S SIGHT

It is not your wealth or your children that will bring you near to Us—only in the case of people who believe and act rightly; such people will have a double recompense for what they did. They will be safe from all harm in the High Halls of Paradise. (Qur'an, 34:37)

Do not direct your eyes longingly to what We have given certain of them to enjoy, the flower of the life of this world, so that We can test them by it. Your Lord's provision is better and longer lasting. (Qur'an, 20:131)

Neither their wealth nor their children will help them at all against Allah. Such people are the Companions of the Fire, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. (Qur'an, 58:17)

Wealth and sons are the embellishment of the life of this world. But, in your Lord's sight, right actions which are lasting bring a better reward and are a better basis for hope. (Qur'an, 18:46)

But as for him who is stingy and self-satisfied, and denies the Good, We will pave his way to Difficulty. His wealth will not help him when he plummets to the depths. (Qur'an, 92:8-11)

WHAT UNBELIEVERS DO IN THIS WORLD WILL
COME TO NOTHING IN THE HEREAFTER

As for those who desire the life of this world and its finery, We will give them full payment in it for their actions. They will not be deprived here of their due. But such people will have nothing in the hereafter but the Fire. What they achieved here will come to nothing. What they did will prove to be null and void. (Qur'an, 11:15-16)