وَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ 85
Translations
And let not their wealth and their children impress you. Allāh only intends to punish them through them in this world and that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers.
Transliteration
Wa lā tu'jibka amwāluhum wa awlāduhum; innamā yurīdu Allāhu an yu'aḏḏibahum bihā fī ad-dunyā wa tazhaqā anfusuhum wa hum kāfirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns the Prophet (peace be upon him) not to be deceived or impressed by the wealth and children of the hypocrites and disbelievers, as these worldly possessions are merely instruments of punishment from Allah in this life. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Allah uses their riches and offspring as means to increase them in sin and heedlessness, ultimately leading to their spiritual death while still living as disbelievers. The phrase 'tazhaqu anfusuhum' (their souls depart) refers to their deaths while in a state of kufr (disbelief), condemning them eternally.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah At-Tawbah's discussion of the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) of Madinah, particularly those who refused to participate in the Tabuk expedition. The broader context addresses the deception of wealth and status as indicators of divine favor, correcting the jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic) notion that material prosperity equals blessing.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better with your Lord in reward and better in hope' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46, referenced contextually in Tirmidhi and other collections). Additionally, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet warned against being deceived by the apparent success of the wicked in this world.
Themes
Key Lesson
Material wealth and children, while seemingly good, should never be mistaken for divine approval or spiritual success—those who use these blessings in disobedience to Allah ultimately suffer spiritual ruin. Believers should cultivate detachment from worldly possessions as measures of worth and focus instead on righteous deeds and sincere faith.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَىٰ قَبْرِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ
And do not pray [the funeral prayer, O Muḥammad], over any of them who has died - ever - or stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allāh and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.
فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
But when He gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused.
لَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you [i.e., your guidance] and to the believers is kind and merciful.
لَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى مَوَاطِنَ كَثِيرَةٍ ۙ وَيَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ ۙ إِذْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ كَثْرَتُكُمْ فَلَمْ تُغْنِ عَنكُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ ثُمَّ وَلَّيْتُم مُّدْبِرِينَ
Allāh has already given you victory in many regions and [even] on the day of Ḥunayn, when your great number pleased you, but it did not avail you at all, and the earth was confining for you with [i.e., in spite of] its vastness; then you turned back, fleeing.