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
وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طَالُوتَ مَلِكًا ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ عَلَيْنَا وَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِٱلْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْتَ سَعَةً مِّنَ ٱلْمَالِ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَزَادَهُۥ بَسْطَةً فِى ٱلْعِلْمِ وَٱلْجِسْمِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤْتِى مُلْكَهُۥ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, Allāh has sent to you Saul as a king." They said, "How can he have kingship over us while we are more worthy of kingship than him and he has not been given any measure of wealth?" He said, "Indeed, Allāh has chosen him over you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allāh gives His sovereignty to whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing [in favor] and Knowing."
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا۟ بِهَآ إِلَى ٱلْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].
فَإِنِ ٱنتَهَوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And if they cease, then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِى يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ مِنَ ٱلْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۚ فَمَن جَآءَهُۥ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, "Trade is [just] like interest." But Allāh has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allāh. But whoever returns [to dealing in interest or usury] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein.