أَلْهَىٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ 1
Translations
Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you
Transliteration
Alhaakum al-takathur
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah of Surah At-Takathur addresses humanity's preoccupation with worldly accumulation and competition for wealth and status, which distracts them from remembrance of Allah and the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that 'alhaakum' (has distracted you) indicates how the pursuit of increase and rivalry in material possessions keeps people heedless of their ultimate purpose and accountability before Allah. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this refers to the human tendency to compete endlessly in acquiring wealth, children, and worldly honors until death overtakes them.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period when materialistic pursuits and tribal rivalry were prevalent among the Arabs. The surah serves as a direct rebuke to this mindset, warning that such distractions lead to heedlessness of death and the Day of Judgment. The theme sets the foundation for the entire surah's message about accountability in the Hereafter.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'If the son of Adam had two valleys of gold, he would desire a third valley, and nothing fills the belly of the son of Adam except dust (death)' (Sahih Bukhari 6437). Also related is the hadith: 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (At-Tirmidhi 3025).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us to examine our priorities and ensure that worldly pursuits do not become obstacles to our spiritual development and remembrance of Allah. We must balance provision-seeking with consciousness that all possessions are temporary and that true success lies in our deeds and relationship with the Divine.