وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَٱخْتَلَطَ بِهِۦ نَبَاتُ ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحُ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا 45
Translations
And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allāh is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability.
Transliteration
Wa-idrib lahum mathala al-hayati al-dunya kama'in anzalnahu mina al-sama'i fa-ikhtalaта bihi nabatu al-ardi fa-asbaha hashiman tadhruhu al-riyahu wa-kana Allahu ala kulli shay'in muqtadira
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah instructs the Prophet to present a parable of worldly life as rain that descends from the sky, causing vegetation to flourish and intermingle, but then withers into dry chaff scattered by the winds. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as depicting the transient, illusory nature of earthly existence—seemingly abundant and beautiful initially, yet inevitably decaying and returning to nothingness. The ayah concludes by emphasizing Allah's absolute power over all things, affirming that only His dominion is eternal and unchanging.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period section of Surah Al-Kahf, within the broader context of lessons about the ephemeral nature of worldly pursuits and material wealth. It serves as a warning to those who become preoccupied with dunya (worldly life) at the expense of the Hereafter, particularly relevant to the pagans of Mecca who were absorbed in materialistic concerns.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever' (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, the hadith 'The example of this life and the next is like a man who has two wives' (Tirmidhi) illustrates the temporal nature of worldly attachments in contrast to eternal rewards.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers not to become overly attached to worldly possessions and status, recognizing that all material gain is temporary and will inevitably fade away like autumn leaves. It redirects focus toward the eternal rewards of the Hereafter, while strengthening faith in Allah's absolute control and wisdom over creation.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَٱخْتَلَطَ بِهِۦ نَبَاتُ ٱلْأَرْضِ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمُ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَخَذَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ زُخْرُفَهَا وَٱزَّيَّنَتْ وَظَنَّ أَهْلُهَآ أَنَّهُمْ قَـٰدِرُونَ عَلَيْهَآ أَتَىٰهَآ أَمْرُنَا لَيْلًا أَوْ نَهَارًا فَجَعَلْنَـٰهَا حَصِيدًا كَأَن لَّمْ تَغْنَ بِٱلْأَمْسِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
The example of [this] worldly life is but like rain which We have sent down from the sky that the plants of the earth absorb - [those] from which men and livestock eat - until, when the earth has taken on its adornment and is beautified and its people suppose that they have capability over it, there comes to it Our command by night or by day, and We make it as a harvest, as if it had not flourished yesterday. Thus do We explain in detail the signs for a people who give thought.
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَيِّتُونَ
Then indeed, after that you are to die.
قَالُوا۟ لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ فَسْـَٔلِ ٱلْعَآدِّينَ
They will say, "We remained a day or part of a day; ask those who enumerate."