وَزُخْرُفًا ۚ وَإِن كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ 35
Translations
And gold ornament. But all that is not but the enjoyment of worldly life. And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous.
Transliteration
Wa zukhrufan, wa in kulla dhalika lamma mata'u al-hayati ad-dunya, wa al-akhiratu 'inda rabbika lil-muttaqin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the discussion about worldly adornments and luxuries by emphasizing their temporary nature. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this verse as a clear statement that all material ornaments and embellishments—whether in homes, possessions, or status—are merely fleeting pleasures of this life, while the eternal reward of the Hereafter is reserved exclusively for those who possess taqwa (God-consciousness and piety). The contrast between the transient dunya and the permanent akhirah serves as a powerful reminder to redirect priorities toward spiritual achievement rather than material accumulation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within a Meccan surah addressing polytheists who were captivated by worldly wealth and status. The broader context discusses how disbelievers attributed daughters to Allah and adorned idols with gold, using this as a springboard to remind humanity that such material preoccupations distract from the true purpose of life and eternal accountability.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The world is cursed, and all that is in it is cursed, except the remembrance of Allah and what helps toward it, and a knowledgeable scholar and a learning student.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also relevant: 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better with your Lord.' (Quran 18:46, related in themes).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no amount of material wealth or worldly adornment should become our ultimate goal; instead, believers must cultivate taqwa and righteous deeds, which alone secure eternal success. It invites modern readers to reassess their priorities and recognize that true prosperity lies in spiritual excellence rather than in accumulating possessions that will ultimately perish.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فِىٓ أَهْلِهِۦ مَسْرُورًا
Indeed, he had [once] been among his people in happiness;
وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَمَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتُهَا ۚ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
And whatever thing you [people] have been given - it is [only for] the enjoyment of worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allāh is better and more lasting; so will you not use reason?
ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَـٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَـٰمًا ۖ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ ۚ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ
Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allāh and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.
إِنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۚ وَإِن تُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ يُؤْتِكُمْ أُجُورَكُمْ وَلَا يَسْـَٔلْكُمْ أَمْوَٰلَكُمْ
[This] worldly life is only amusement and diversion. And if you believe and fear Allāh, He will give you your rewards and not ask you for your properties.