فَأَعْرِضْ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ إِلَّا ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا 29
Translations
So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires not except the worldly life.
Transliteration
Fa-a'rid 'an man tawallaa 'an dhikrina wa lam yurid illa al-hayatal-dunya
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad to turn away from those who reject Allah's remembrance and are preoccupied solely with worldly life. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as divine instruction for the Prophet not to grieve over the rejection of those whose hearts are sealed from guidance, as their concern is limited to temporary material pursuits rather than spiritual truth. The ayah emphasizes that those who willfully ignore divine signs have chosen the fleeting pleasures of this world over eternal salvation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Najm, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islam when the Prophet faced significant rejection from the Quraysh. The broader context addresses the certainty of divine revelation and warns against those who turn away from it. This particular verse reflects the Prophet's situation of encountering people more interested in worldly gains than spiritual guidance.
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' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), emphasizing proper conduct. Additionally, the hadith 'Wealth and children are adornments of life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Surah Al-Kahf 46, confirmed in multiple hadith collections) relates to the ayah's warning against exclusive pursuit of worldly life.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should not despair when others reject divine guidance, as those focused solely on worldly gains will naturally resist spiritual truth. This teaches us to prioritize our spiritual development over seeking approval from those uninterested in faith, and to recognize that true success lies in remembrance of Allah rather than material accumulation.