إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ يُحِبُّونَ ٱلْعَاجِلَةَ وَيَذَرُونَ وَرَآءَهُمْ يَوْمًا ثَقِيلًا 27
Translations
Indeed, these [disbelievers] love the immediate and leave behind them a grave Day.
Transliteration
Inna haaulaa'i yuhibboon al-aajilah wa yadhroona waraahum yawman thaqeela
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who prioritize the fleeting pleasures of this worldly life while neglecting the serious consequences of the Day of Judgment that awaits them. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that 'al-aajilah' (the hastened/immediate life) refers to worldly desires and material gains, while 'yawm thaqeel' (heavy day) refers to the Day of Resurrection when deeds are weighed and accountability is severe. The ayah emphasizes the spiritual blindness of those who trade eternal consequences for temporary gratification.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Insan is a Medinan surah that describes the nature of humanity, the contrast between the righteous and the wicked, and their ultimate destinies. This ayah appears in the latter portion of the surah where Allah contrasts those devoted to worldly pleasures with those who remember Him. The broader context addresses humanity's tendency toward heedlessness regarding the Afterlife.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), emphasizing spiritual priorities. Also relevant: 'Whoever loves the world forgets the Hereafter' (a principle supported by multiple hadith collections addressing worldly attachment).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a reminder that pursuing temporary worldly pleasures at the expense of spiritual preparation leads to regret and loss on the Day of Judgment. Believers should balance worldly needs with constant mindfulness of the Afterlife and its inevitable reckoning.