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
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ يُرِيكُمُ ٱلْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَيُحْىِۦ بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
And of His signs is [that] He shows you the lightning [causing] fear and aspiration, and He sends down rain from the sky by which He brings to life the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed in that are signs for a people who use reason.
غُلِبَتِ ٱلرُّومُ
The Byzantines have been defeated
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ رَزَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ هَلْ مِن شُرَكَآئِكُم مَّن يَفْعَلُ مِن ذَٰلِكُم مِّن شَىْءٍ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Allāh is the one who created you, then provided for you, then will cause you to die, and then will give you life. Are there any of your "partners" who does anything of that? Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.