Surah Al-Ahqaf: Verse 20 - ويوم يعرض الذين كفروا على... - English
Tafsir of Verse 20, Surah Al-Ahqaf
English Translation
And the Day those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire [it will be said], "You exhausted your pleasures during your worldly life and enjoyed them, so this Day you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation because you were arrogant upon the earth without right and because you were defiantly disobedient."English Transliteration
Wayawma yuAAradu allatheena kafaroo AAala alnnari athhabtum tayyibatikum fee hayatikumu alddunya waistamtaAAtum biha faalyawma tujzawna AAathaba alhooni bima kuntum tastakbiroona fee alardi bighayri alhaqqi wabima kuntum tafsuqoonaTafsir of Verse 20
أَذْهَبْتُمْ طَيِّبَاتِكُمْ فِي حَيَاتِكُمُ الدُّنْيَا ("You have consumed your good things in your worldly life - 46:20), It means that the infidels will be told that they had already been awarded delights, luxuries and enjoyment in the worldly life for whatever good deeds they had done there; now there is nothing left for them in the Hereafter. It is known from this verse that the good deeds of disbelievers do not have any worth in the Hereafter due to lack of belief or faith, but Allah Ta’ ala compensates them in this world. The riches and wealth, honour and dignity, etc., which are enjoyed by disbelievers in this world are all recompense for their good deeds, benevolence, sympathy, truthfulness, etc. This rule does not apply to Mu'mins (believers) that if they get any delights, riches and wealth in this world, they would be deprived of their right in the Hereafter.
Incentive for avoiding worldly delights and luxuries
The punishment stated in this verse for the disbelievers is because of their being engrossed in worldly enjoyments. So, the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، his noble companions and Tabi` in رحمۃ اللہ علیہم had made it a habit to avoid worldly enjoyments, as is evident from their lives. The Holy Prophet ﷺ had charged Sayyidna Mu` adh ؓ ، when sending him to Yemen, to keep on avoiding the luxuries of this world. Sayyidna ‘Ali ؓ has reported the Holy Prophet ﷺ saying that one who is happy with Allah Ta’ ala giving him scanty sustenance finds Allah Ta’ ala also happy at his meager deeds. (Mazhari from al-Baghawi)
