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Surah Al-Hadid, Verse 20

سورة الحديد، الآية ٢٠

57:20 Juz 27 Hizb 54 Page 540 of the mushaf Medinan surah

Text of verse 57:20

ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَٰدِ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَٰمًا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ ۝٢٠

Transliteration

iʿ'lamū annamā l-ḥayatu l-dun'yā laʿibun walahwun wazīnatun watafākhurun baynakum watakāthurun fī l-amwāli wal-awlādi kamathali ghaythin aʿjaba l-kufāra nabātuhu thumma yahīju fatarāhu muṣ'farran thumma yakūnu ḥuṭāman wafī l-ākhirati ʿadhābun shadīdun wamaghfiratun mina l-lahi wariḍ'wānun wamā l-ḥayatu l-dun'yā illā matāʿu l-ghurūri

Translation

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.

Translation in another language
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary Read in the surah

Verse 20 of Surah Al-Hadid (57:20), a Medinan surah, is in juz 27, on page 540 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.

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Tafsir of verse 20

Al-Mukhtasar

Know that the life of the world is only a pastime that the bodies play with; futility that the hearts engage in; beauty that you adorn yourselves with; boasting with one another over possessions and power, and taking pride in abundance of wealth and offspring. It is just like rainfall that pleases the farmers with the growth it brings, but the green growth does not last long before it begins to dry. Then, O onlooker, you see it after its greenery having turned yellow. Allah then turns it into broken bits falling apart. And in theِ Afterlife there will be a severe punishment for the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and a special forgiveness from Allah for the sins of His believing servants.

Tafsir of the whole Surah Al-Hadid

Other translations of verse 20

Know that the life of this world is no more than play, amusement, adornment, boasting among yourselves, and competition in wealth and children. It is like plants that flourish after rain, pleasing the sowers, then they wither and you see them turning yellow, and then they crumble. And in the Hereafter there will be severe punishment, or forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure. For the life of this world is no more than a fleeting enjoyment.

Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. (It is) as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers - evil-doers), and (there is) Forgiveness from Allâh and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers - good-doers). And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.

Know that the life of the world is only play, and idle talk, and pageantry, and boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children; as the likeness of vegetation after rain, whereof the growth is pleasing to the husbandman, but afterward it drieth up and thou seest it turning yellow, then it becometh straw. And in the Hereafter there is grievous punishment, and (also) forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure, whereas the life of the world is but matter of illusion.

Know ye (all), that the life of this world is but play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting and multiplying, (in rivalry) among yourselves, riches and children. Here is a similitude: How rain and the growth which it brings forth, delight (the hearts of) the tillers; soon it withers; thou wilt see it grow yellow; then it becomes dry and crumbles away. But in the Hereafter is a Penalty severe (for the devotees of wrong). And Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the devotees of Allah). And what is the life of this world, but goods and chattels of deception?

Know that this world's life is only sport and play and gaiety and boasting among yourselves, and a vying in the multiplication of wealth and children, like the rain, whose causing the vegetation to grow, pleases the husbandmen, then it withers away so that you will see it become yellow, then it becomes dried up and broken down; and in the hereafter is a severe chastisement and (also) forgiveness from Allah and (His) pleasure; and this world's life is naught but means of deception.

Know that the present life (Literally: the lowly life i.e., the life of this world) is only playing and diversion, and an adornment, and a cause for mutual boasting among you, and mutual multiplying in riches and children. It is as the likeness of succoring (rain) whose growth (looks) wonderful to the steadfast disbelievers. Thereafter it heaves, then you see it (turning) yellow; thereafter it becomes crushed to pieces. And in the Hereafter there is strict torment and forgiveness from Allah and all-blessed Satisfaction; and in no way is the present life anything except the enjoyment of delusion.

Verse 20 word by word

  1. ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ iʿ'lamū Know ع ل م
  2. أَنَّمَا annamā that
  3. ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ l-ḥayatu the life ح ي ي
  4. ٱلدُّنْيَا l-dun'yā (of) the world د ن و
  5. لَعِبٌ laʿibun (is) play ل ع ب
  6. وَلَهْوٌ walahwun and amusement ل ه و
  7. وَزِينَةٌ wazīnatun and adornment ز ي ن
  8. وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ watafākhurun and boasting ف خ ر
  9. بَيْنَكُمْ baynakum among you ب ي ن
  10. وَتَكَاثُرٌ watakāthurun and competition in increase ك ث ر
  11. فِى fī of
  12. ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ l-amwāli the wealth م و ل
  13. وَٱلْأَوْلَٰدِ wal-awlādi and the children و ل د
  14. كَمَثَلِ kamathali like (the) example م ث ل
  15. غَيْثٍ ghaythin (of) a rain غ ي ث
  16. أَعْجَبَ aʿjaba pleases ع ج ب
  17. ٱلْكُفَّارَ l-kufāra the tillers ك ف ر
  18. نَبَاتُهُۥ nabātuhu its growth ن ب ت
  19. ثُمَّ thumma then
  20. يَهِيجُ yahīju it dries ه ي ج
  21. فَتَرَىٰهُ fatarāhu and you see it ر أ ي
  22. مُصْفَرًّا muṣ'farran turning yellow ص ف ر
  23. ثُمَّ thumma then
  24. يَكُونُ yakūnu becomes ك و ن
  25. حُطَٰمًا ḥuṭāman debris ح ط م
  26. وَفِى wafī And in
  27. ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ l-ākhirati the Hereafter أ خ ر
  28. عَذَابٌ ʿadhābun (is) a punishment ع ذ ب
  29. شَدِيدٌ shadīdun severe ش د د
  30. وَمَغْفِرَةٌ wamaghfiratun and forgiveness غ ف ر
  31. مِّنَ mina from
  32. ٱللَّهِ l-lahi Allah
  33. وَرِضْوَٰنٌ wariḍ'wānun and Pleasure ر ض و
  34. وَمَا wamā But not
  35. ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ l-ḥayatu (is) the life ح ي ي
  36. ٱلدُّنْيَآ l-dun'yā (of) the world د ن و
  37. إِلَّا illā except
  38. مَتَٰعُ matāʿu (the) enjoyment م ت ع
  39. ٱلْغُرُورِ l-ghurūri (of) delusion غ ر ر

Verses related to verse 20

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • Ali ’Imran 3:14

    زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْبَنِينَ وَٱلْقَنَٰطِيرِ ٱلْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ ٱلذَّهَبِ وَٱلْفِضَّةِ وَٱلْخَيْلِ ٱلْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ وَٱلْحَرْثِ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسْنُ ٱلْمَـَٔابِ

    Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allāh has with Him the best return [i.e., Paradise].

  • Ash-Shuraa 42:28

    وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُوا۟ وَيَنشُرُ رَحْمَتَهُۥ وَهُوَ ٱلْوَلِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ

    And it is He who sends down the rain after they had despaired and spreads His mercy. And He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy.

  • Ar-Rum 30:54

    ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةً ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفًا وَشَيْبَةً يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْقَدِيرُ

    Allāh is the one who created you from weakness, then made after weakness strength, then made after strength weakness and white hair. He creates what He wills, and He is the Knowing, the Competent.

  • Ali ’Imran 3:133

    وَسَارِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

    And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden [i.e., Paradise] as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous

Verses with similar wording

They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.

  • Muhammad 47:36

    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.

  • Ali ’Imran 3:185

    كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ ٱلنَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ

    Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.

  • Al-An’am 6:32

    وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَلَلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

    And the worldly life is not but amusement and diversion; but the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allāh, so will you not reason?

  • Az-Zumar 39:21

    أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَكَهُۥ يَنَٰبِيعَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًا مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ حُطَٰمًا إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

    Do you not see that Allāh sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs [and rivers] in the earth; then He produces thereby crops of varying colors; then they dry and you see them turned yellow; then He makes them [scattered] debris. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of understanding.

All similar verses of Surah Al-Hadid

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