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
بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ فَلَهُۥٓ أَجْرُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Yes, [on the contrary], whoever submits his face [i.e., self] in Islām to Allāh while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَـٰكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Then We revived you after your death that perhaps you would be grateful.
تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
These are the verses of Allāh which We recite to you, [O Muḥammad], in truth. And indeed, you are from among the messengers.
أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآئِكُمْ ۚ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ ۗ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ ۖ فَٱلْـَٔـٰنَ بَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلْخَيْطُ ٱلْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْطِ ٱلْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ وَلَا تُبَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَـٰكِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَسَـٰجِدِ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ
It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are a clothing for you and you are a clothing for them. Allāh knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allāh has decreed for you [i.e., offspring]. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the night [i.e., sunset]. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allāh, so do not approach them. Thus does Allāh make clear His verses [i.e., ordinances] to the people that they may become righteous.