ذَرْهُمْ يَأْكُلُوا۟ وَيَتَمَتَّعُوا۟ وَيُلْهِهِمُ ٱلْأَمَلُ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ 3
Translations
Let them eat and enjoy themselves and be diverted by [false] hope, for they are going to know.
Transliteration
Dharhumyakulu wa yatamattaʿu wa yulhihimu al-amalu fasawfa yaʿlamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah instructs the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to disregard the disbelievers who occupy themselves with worldly pleasures and false hopes, for they will ultimately face the consequences of their rejection of truth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as Allah's counsel to the Prophet not to grieve over those who persist in disbelief despite clear signs, as their eventual punishment is assured. The verse emphasizes that preoccupation with material enjoyment and deceptive aspirations blinds them to divine guidance, but they will inevitably come to know the truth when facing divine judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the Meccan period of revelation when the Prophet faced considerable rejection and mockery from the Quraysh elite who were deeply invested in their worldly status and commercial prosperity. The surah's broader context addresses the arrogance of disbelievers and their denial of resurrection, providing consolation to the Prophet that their temporary enjoyment will end in accountability.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet said: 'The world is cursed, and cursed is what is in it, except the remembrance of Allah and what pleases Him' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith: 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Quran 18:46, complemented by related ahadith on detachment from worldly pursuits in Jami' at-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers not to be discouraged by the apparent prosperity and indifference of those who reject faith, recognizing that worldly pleasure is temporary and illusory, while ultimate accountability is certain. It encourages detachment from excessive material ambition and reminds us that true success lies in submission to Allah, not in the fleeting enjoyments that distract the heedless from their spiritual responsibility.