قَالُوا۟ لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ فَسْـَٔلِ ٱلْعَآدِّينَ 113
Translations
They will say, "We remained a day or part of a day; ask those who enumerate."
Transliteration
Qālū labithnā yawman aw ba'ḍa yawmin fasʾal al-ʿāddīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the people of Paradise speaking about their duration in the worldly life, claiming they remained only a day or part of a day, demonstrating how brief life appears when compared to eternity. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain this reflects the believers' realization that their earthly existence was insignificant in comparison to their eternal reward, highlighting the Quranic theme that worldly life is transient and illusory (dunya). The phrase 'ask those who keep count' invites reflection on how time passes unnoticed when one is absorbed in spiritual and eternal matters.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Mu'minun's description of the Day of Judgment and the state of believers in Paradise. It is part of a broader Meccan narrative addressing the disbelievers' doubts about resurrection and accountability, emphasizing that despite the apparent length of worldly life, it will seem negligible on the Day of Reckoning compared to eternity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The world compared to the Hereafter is like when one of you puts his finger in the ocean—let him see what returns to him' (Sahih Muslim 2858). Additionally, Surah Al-Kahf (18:45) contains a related theme: 'The life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to maintain perspective on life's brevity and to prioritize eternal values over temporal concerns, recognizing that a life spent in righteousness will seem fleeting when weighed against infinity. It encourages Muslims to focus on the Hereafter rather than being consumed by worldly pursuits.
Related Ayahs
وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَٱخْتَلَطَ بِهِۦ نَبَاتُ ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحُ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا
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.
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.
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَيِّتُونَ
Then indeed, after that you are to die.
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.