زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۘ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ 212
Translations
Beautified for those who disbelieve is the life of this world, and they ridicule those who believe. But those who fear Allāh are above them on the Day of Resurrection. And Allāh gives provision to whom He wills without account.
Transliteration
Zuyyina lilladhīna kafarū al-hayāt al-dunyā wa-yaskharu min alladhīna āmanū. Wa-alladhīna ittaqaw fawqahum yawm al-qiyāmah. Wa-Allāhu yarzuqu man yashā'u bighayri hisāb.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the worldly life has been made attractive and appealing to those who disbelieve, causing them to mock the believers; however, on the Day of Judgment, the righteous will be elevated above them in rank and station. The verse concludes with an affirmation of Allah's absolute provision and sovereignty, reminding us that sustenance comes according to divine wisdom, not through human calculation or material accumulation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse provides consolation to believers facing ridicule in this life while assuring them of ultimate vindication on the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Medinan section of Surah Al-Baqarah and addresses the believers who faced persecution and mockery from the disbelievers and hypocrites of Medina. The broader context of these verses (2:202-213) deals with the contrast between believers and disbelievers regarding their orientation toward worldly versus eternal rewards, providing reassurance to the Muslim community during early Islamic struggles.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The world is cursed, and what is in it is cursed, except for the remembrance of Allah and what facilitates it' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2320). Additionally, 'Whoever makes the Hereafter his intention, Allah will make him rich in his heart' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2465).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should not be disheartened by worldly success of the disbelievers or their ridicule, as true honor and superiority lies in the Hereafter with Allah. Focus on piety (taqwa) rather than material accumulation, trusting that Allah provides abundantly to whom He wills according to His infinite wisdom.
Related Ayahs
لَّا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ مَا لَمْ تَمَسُّوهُنَّ أَوْ تَفْرِضُوا۟ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً ۚ وَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ عَلَى ٱلْمُوسِعِ قَدَرُهُۥ وَعَلَى ٱلْمُقْتِرِ قَدَرُهُۥ مَتَـٰعًۢا بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۖ حَقًّا عَلَى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
There is no blame upon you if you divorce women you have not touched nor specified for them an obligation. But give them [a gift of] compensation - the wealthy according to his capability and the poor according to his capability - a provision according to what is acceptable, a duty upon the doers of good.
بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَمَثُوبَةٌ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ ۖ لَّوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
And if they had believed and feared Allāh, then the reward from Allāh would have been [far] better, if they only knew.
هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى ظُلَلٍ مِّنَ ٱلْغَمَامِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
Do they await but that Allāh should come to them in covers of clouds and the angels [as well] and the matter is [then] decided? And to Allāh [all] matters are returned.