أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ 86
Translations
Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided.
Transliteration
Ulaa'ika alladhina ishtaraw al-hayaata ad-dunya bi-al-akhirah, fala yukhaffafu anhum al-adhab wa la hum yunsarun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who have chosen worldly life over the Hereafter, making a false trade-off by prioritizing temporary material gains and pleasures over eternal spiritual salvation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this describes those who knowingly reject faith, violate covenants, or pursue worldly benefits at the expense of divine obedience. Their punishment will neither be lightened nor will they receive any help or rescue from Allah's justice, emphasizing the severe and permanent nature of their consequence.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a passage in Surah Al-Baqarah (ayat 83-86) addressing the Children of Israel and their betrayal of covenants made with Allah. The immediate context discusses those who broke their promises with Allah and killed the prophets without right, establishing a thematic connection between covenant-breaking and choosing worldly interests over divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), emphasizing the value of the Hereafter-focused knowledge. Also relevant is the hadith about worldly deception: 'The world is sweet and green, and verily Allah is going to install you as vicegerents in it in order to see how you act' (Sahih Muslim 2994).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a sobering reminder that trading eternal reward for temporary worldly gains is the worst bargain one can make, and that no escape or mitigation exists for those who knowingly reject divine guidance. Muslims should regularly evaluate their priorities and ensure their actions and choices reflect commitment to the Hereafter rather than enslavement to worldly desires.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۖ وَلَلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
And the worldly life is not but amusement and diversion; but the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allāh, so will you not reason?
إِنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۚ وَإِن تُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ يُؤْتِكُمْ أُجُورَكُمْ وَلَا يَسْـَٔلْكُمْ أَمْوَٰلَكُمْ
[This] worldly life is only amusement and diversion. And if you believe and fear Allāh, He will give you your rewards and not ask you for your properties.
فَلَمَّآ أَنجَىٰهُمْ إِذَا هُمْ يَبْغُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ ۗ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغْيُكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُم ۖ مَّتَـٰعَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَنُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
But when He saves them, at once they commit injustice upon the earth without right. O mankind, your injustice is only against yourselves, [being merely] the enjoyment of worldly life. Then to Us is your return, and We will inform you of what you used to do.
فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءً مُّنۢبَثًّا
And become dust dispersing,