وَٱبْتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِن كَمَآ أَحْسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَلَا تَبْغِ ٱلْفَسَادَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ 77
Translations
But seek, through that which Allāh has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allāh has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allāh does not like corrupters."
Transliteration
Wabtaghi fima ataaka Allahu al-dara al-akhirah, wa la tansa nasibaka mina al-dunya, wa ahsin kama ahsana Allahu ilayk, wa la tabghi al-fasada fi al-ard, inna Allaha la yuhibbu al-mufsidin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, revealed in the context of Qarun's story, commands the believer to seek the Hereafter through the blessings Allah has given in this life, while not neglecting one's legitimate share of worldly sustenance. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse teaches balance: pursuing the afterlife should not lead to abandonment of lawful worldly provisions, and enjoying the world should not cause one to forget the final destination. The ayah also prohibits causing corruption on earth and reminds that Allah dislikes those who spread mischief.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Qasas (a Meccan surah), specifically within the narrative of Qarun, who possessed immense wealth but used it corruptly and arrogantly. The verse serves as divine counsel to those blessed with provision, instructing them on the proper balance between worldly and spiritual pursuits and warning against the corruption that wealth can breed when misused.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), relating to the principle of goodness mentioned in the ayah. Additionally, the hadith 'The best charity is that given when one is in need' (Ahmad) reflects the balanced approach to wealth encouraged here.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should maintain equilibrium in their lives by using lawful worldly blessings as means to earn the Hereafter, not as ends in themselves, while extending goodness to others as Allah has extended goodness to them. This ayah teaches that spiritual success and material provision are not mutually exclusive, but that intention and moral conduct determine whether wealth becomes a blessing or a curse.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ ۘ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُۥ ۚ لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
And do not invoke with Allāh another deity. There is no deity except Him. Everything will be destroyed except His Face. His is the judgement, and to Him you will be returned.
وَنَزَعْنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا فَقُلْنَا هَاتُوا۟ بُرْهَـٰنَكُمْ فَعَلِمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱلْحَقَّ لِلَّهِ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
And We will extract from every nation a witness and say, "Produce your proof," and they will know that the truth belongs to Allāh, and lost from them is that which they used to invent.
وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَنُرِىَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَـٰمَـٰنَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَحْذَرُونَ
And establish them in the land and show Pharaoh and [his minister] Hāmān and their soldiers through them that which they had feared.
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Indeed, [O Muḥammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.