قَـٰلَ إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ۖ لَّوْ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ 114
Translations
He will say, "You stayed not but a little - if only you had known.
Transliteration
Qāla in labistum illā qalīlan, law annakum kuntum ta'lamūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment, stating that their worldly life was but a brief span—a reality they would have understood had they possessed true knowledge. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes that the eternal consequences of one's deeds should have motivated believers to seek knowledge of the afterlife and obey Allah's commands. The brevity of earthly life contrasted with eternity serves as a powerful reminder of human negligence and heedlessness in this world.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Mu'minun, which delineates the characteristics of true believers and the fate of those who reject faith. The ayah is part of a scene on the Day of Judgment where Allah reproaches those who were given time and opportunity in this world but squandered it through ignorance and arrogance. It underscores the central Meccan theme of accountability and the reality of resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The world is cursed, and all that is in it is cursed, except the remembrance of Allah and what pleases Allah, and a scholar and a student (of knowledge)' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). This hadith reinforces the ayah's emphasis on knowledge ('ilm) as essential for understanding the true value of worldly life.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah calls believers to cultivate sincere knowledge of Islamic teachings and the afterlife, recognizing that our earthly existence is fleeting and should be spent in obedience to Allah. The implicit lesson is that ignorance of spiritual realities leads to wasted opportunities, while true knowledge ('ilm) transforms our perspective and priorities.