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
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.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
O you who have believed, fear Allāh and be with those who are true.
ٱلْأَعْرَابُ أَشَدُّ كُفْرًا وَنِفَاقًا وَأَجْدَرُ أَلَّا يَعْلَمُوا۟ حُدُودَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
The bedouins are stronger in disbelief and hypocrisy and more likely not to know the limits of what [laws] Allāh has revealed to His Messenger. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ زَادَتْهُ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ إِيمَـٰنًا ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
And whenever a sūrah is revealed, there are among them [i.e., the hypocrites] those who say, "Which of you has this increased in faith?" As for those who believed, it has increased them in faith, while they are rejoicing.