يَعْلَمُونَ ظَـٰهِرًا مِّنَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ غَـٰفِلُونَ 7
Translations
They know what is apparent of the worldly life, but they, of the Hereafter, are unaware.
Transliteration
Ya'lamūna ẓāhiran min al-ḥayāt ad-dunyā wa-hum 'an al-ākhirah hum ghāfilūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who are preoccupied with the superficial aspects of worldly life—its material gains, pleasures, and visible concerns—while remaining heedless and unmindful of the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'ẓāhir' (apparent/external) refers to the transient aspects of this world, while their neglect of the Hereafter represents a profound spiritual blindness. Al-Qurtubi notes this describes those whose knowledge and concern are limited to worldly affairs without contemplating the eternal consequences of their actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ar-Rum, a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists of Mecca and their priorities. The broader context of the surah contrasts the signs of Allah's creation and power with human heedlessness. This specific ayah is part of a passage describing the characteristics of those who ignore divine guidance and remain absorbed in materialistic pursuits.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who have the best character' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3662). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever loves his worldly life will lose his religion, and whoever loves his religion will lose his worldly life' (Sunan Ibn Majah) relates thematically to the imbalance described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are urged to maintain balance between worldly responsibilities and spiritual development, ensuring that pursuit of material sustenance does not obscure awareness of eternal accountability. This ayah invites self-reflection: are we cognizant of both the visible world and the invisible realities of the Hereafter in our daily decisions?
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَٱلْإِيمَـٰنَ لَقَدْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْبَعْثِ ۖ فَهَـٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلْبَعْثِ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
But those who were given knowledge and faith will say, "You remained the extent of Allāh's decree until the Day of Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection, but you did not used to know."
وَلَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَعَشِيًّا وَحِينَ تُظْهِرُونَ
And to Him is [due all] praise throughout the heavens and the earth. And [exalted is He] at night and when you are at noon.
أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِم ۗ مَّا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِلِقَآئِ رَبِّهِمْ لَكَـٰفِرُونَ
Do they not contemplate within themselves? Allāh has not created the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth and for a specified term. And indeed, many of the people, in the meeting with their Lord, are disbelievers.
لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
That He may reward those who have believed and done righteous deeds out of His bounty. Indeed, He does not like the disbelievers.