كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُوٓا۟ إِلَّا عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَىٰهَا 46
Translations
It will be, on the Day they see it, as though they had not remained [in the world] except for an afternoon or a morning thereof.
Transliteration
Ka-annahum yawma yarawnahā lam yalbathū illā 'ashiyyatan aw duhāhā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the people of Paradise will perceive the duration of their worldly life when they see it on the Day of Judgment—it will seem as though they remained in the world only for an evening or a morning. Ibn Kathir explains this reflects the insignificance of worldly life compared to the eternal nature of the Hereafter, while Al-Qurtubi notes this conveys both the brevity of life and how time perception changes in the Hereafter. The ayah emphasizes that despite what seemed like long years in the dunya, the believers will recognize how fleeting their earthly existence truly was.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nazi'at, a Meccan surah that focuses on the events of the Day of Judgment and resurrection. It comes within the broader context of verses describing scenes from the Hereafter, reminding the Meccan believers of the ultimate reality awaiting them and encouraging them to prioritize the eternal over the temporary worldly life.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The world compared to the Hereafter is like what one of you puts in the sea—see how much of it returns!' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also related: 'The parable of this world and the Hereafter is like the parable of a man who has two wives...' (Sahih Muslim, describing the insignificance of worldly life).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to maintain perspective on life's temporality and not become consumed by worldly concerns, recognizing that even what feels like a lifetime will appear as merely a brief moment when standing before eternity. It serves as a spiritual compass redirecting focus from material accumulation toward spiritual preparation for the eternal afterlife.