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
حَـٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَـٰنِتِينَ
Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle [i.e., ʿaṣr] prayer and stand before Allāh, devoutly obedient.
فَمَنْ خَافَ مِن مُّوصٍ جَنَفًا أَوْ إِثْمًا فَأَصْلَحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
But if one fears from the bequeather [some] error or sin and corrects that which is between them [i.e., the concerned parties], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
۞ سَيَقُولُ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَا وَلَّىٰهُمْ عَن قِبْلَتِهِمُ ٱلَّتِى كَانُوا۟ عَلَيْهَا ۚ قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلْمَشْرِقُ وَٱلْمَغْرِبُ ۚ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
The foolish among the people will say, "What has turned them away from their qiblah, which they used to face?" Say, "To Allāh belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path."
فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُۥدُ جَالُوتَ وَءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُلْكَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُۥ مِمَّا يَشَآءُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
So they defeated them by permission of Allāh, and David killed Goliath, and Allāh gave him the kingship and wisdom [i.e., prophethood] and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allāh checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allāh is the possessor of bounty for the worlds.