Al-Qur'an Surah Taha Verse 131

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Never stretch your eyes towards the things We have given to some groups of them to enjoy, so that We put them to test thereby, it being merely glamour of the worldly life. And the bounty of your Lord is much better and more lasting.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Do not let your eyes crave what We have allowed some of the disbelievers to enjoy; the ˹fleeting˺ splendour of this worldly life, which We test them with. But your Lord’s provision ˹in the Hereafter˺ is far better and more lasting.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Do not turn your eyes covetously towards the various forms of splendor of this life that We have given some of the [disbelievers] to enjoy, as a trial for them. But the provision of your Lord is far better and more lasting.

A. J. Arberry

Stretch not thine eyes to that We have given pairs of them to enjoy - the flower of the present life, that We may try them therein and thy Lord's provision is better, and more enduring.

Abdul Haleem

and do not gaze longingly at what We have given some of them to enjoy, the finery of this present life: We test them through this, but the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And strain not thine eyes after that which We have given classes of them to enjoy: the splendour of the life of the World, that We might try them therein; and the provision of thy Lord is the best and most lasting.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Nor strain thine eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them, the splendour of the life of this world, through which We test them; but the provision of thy Lord is better and more enduring.

Abul Ala Maududi

Do not turn your eyes covetously towards the embellishments of worldly life that We have bestowed upon various kinds of people to test them. But the clean provision bestowed upon you by your Lord is better and more enduring.

Ahmed Ali

Do not covet what We have granted myriads of people of the pomp and glitter of this world to tempt them. The means your Lord has given you are better far and more enduring.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And O listener, do not extend your eyes towards what We have given to disbelieving couples to enjoy – the bloom of the worldly life – so that We may test them with it; and the sustenance of your Lord is the best, and more lasting.

Ali Quli Qarai

Do not extend your glance toward what We have provided certain groups of them as a glitter of the life of this world, so that We may test them thereby. The provision of your Lord is better and more lasting.

Ali Ünal

Do not strain your eyes toward what We have given some groups among them to enjoy (in this worldly life), the splendor of the present, worldly life, so that We may test them thereby. The provision of Your Lord (the favors He has bestowed upon you here and hereafter) is better and more lasting.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Do not strain your eyes towards (and hanker after) the glamours of this life which some groups of these (disbelievers) have been provided by Us, that We may distinguish the good from the bad through that. The provisions of your Lord (and His gifts) are far better and more lasting (than all this).

English Literal

And do not extend/spread your two eyes to what We gave long life/made enjoy with it (to) spouses/couples from them, the life the present`s/worldly life`s flower/splendor , to test them in it, and your Lord`s provision (is) better and more lasting .

Faridul Haque

And O listener, do not extend your eyes towards what We have given to disbelieving couples to enjoy - the bloom of the worldly life - so that We may test them with it; and the sustenance of your Lord is the best, and more lasting.

Hamid S. Aziz

Therefore, bear patiently with what they say, and celebrate the praises of your Lord ere the rising of the sun, and ere its setting, and glorify Him at times in the night and at the two ends of the day, that you may find acceptance.

Hilali & Khan

And strain not your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them (polytheists and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), the splendour of the life of this world that We may test them thereby. But the provision (good reward in the Hereafter) of your Lord is better and more lasting.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

So bear patiently what they say, and celebrate the praise of thy Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting, and glorify (Him) during the hours of the night and parts of the day, that thou mayest be well pleased.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And do not stretch your eyes after that with which We have provided different classes of them, (of) the splendor of this world's life, that We may thereby try them; and the sustenance (given) by your Lord is better and more abiding.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And strain not thine eyes toward that which We cause some wedded pairs among them to enjoy, the flower of the life of the world, that We may try them thereby. The provision of thy Lord is better and more lasting.

Muhammad Sarwar

Do not be envious of what We have given to some people as means of enjoyment and worldly delight. Such means are a trial for them, but the reward that you will receive from your Lord will be far better and everlasting.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Do not stretch your eyes at the flower of this life which We have given couples to enjoy, it is with this that We might try them; and the provision of yourLord is better, and more enduring.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And strain not your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them, the splendor of the life of this world, that We may test them thereby. But the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting.

Wahiduddin Khan

Do not regard with envy the worldly benefits We have given some of them, for with these We seek only to test them. The provision of your Lord is better and more lasting.

Talal Itani

And do not extend your glance towards what We have given some classes of them to enjoy—the splendor of the life of this world—that We may test them thereby. Your Lord’s provision is better, and more lasting.

Tafsir jalalayn

And do not extend your glance toward what We have given to some pairs, [certain] categories, among them to enjoy, [as] the flower of the life of this world, its adornment and delight, that We may try them thereby, [to see] if they transgress [the bounds]. And your Lord's provision, in Paradise, is better, than what they have been given in this world, and more enduring, longer lasting.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Do not look at the Enjoyment of the Wealthy, be patient in the worship of Allah

Allah, the Exalted, says,

وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَى مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ

And strain not your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them, the splendor of the life of this world, that We may test them thereby.

But the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting.


Allah, the Exalted, says to His Prophet Muhammad, "Do not look at what these people of luxury and their likes and peers have of nice comforts. For verily, it is only short-lived splendor and a feeble bounty, which We are using to test them with. And very few of My servants are truly thankful."

Mujahid said,
أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ
(various groups of them),

"This means the wealthy people."

This means, "Verily, We have given you (O Muhammad) better than that which We have given them."

This is just as Allah says in another Ayah,

وَلَقَدْ ءاتَيْنَـكَ سَبْعًا مِّنَ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْءَانَ الْعَظِيمَ

لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ

And indeed, We have bestowed upon you seven repeatedly recited verses, and the Grand Qur'an. Look not with your eyes ambitiously. (15;87-88)

Likewise, that which Allah has stored for His Messenger in the Hereafter is something extremely great. It is an unlimited reward that cannot be described.

This is as Allah says,

وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَى

And verily, your Lord will give you so that you shall be well-pleased. (93;5)

For this reason, Allah says,

...
وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى

But the provision of your Lord is better and more lasting.

In the Sahih it is recorded that;

Umar bin Al-Khattab entered upon the Messenger of Allah while he was in the small room in which he had separated himself from his wives after he had vowed to stay away from them. When he came in, he saw him (the Prophet) lying down upon a sandy straw mat. There was nothing in the house except a pile of sant tree pods and some hanging equipment.

Umar's eyes filled with tears (upon seeing this), so the Messenger of Allah said to him,

مَايُبْكِيكَ يَا عُمَرُ

What makes you cry, O Umar?

He replied, "O Messenger of Allah, verily Kisra and Caesar are living in their luxurious conditions, yet you are the chosen Friend of Allah amongst His creation!"

The Prophet said,

أَوَ فِي شَكَ أَنْتَ يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ

أُولَيِكَ قَوْمٌ عُجِّلَتْ لَهُمْ طَيِّبَاتُهُمْ فِي حَيَاتِهِمُ الدُّنْيَا

Do you have doubt, O son of Al-Khattab?

Those people have had their good hastened for them in the life of this world.

Thus, the Prophet was the most abstinent of people concerning worldly luxuries, even though he had the ability to attain them. If he acquired anything of worldly treasures he would spend it on this and that for the servants of Allah. He would never save anything for himself for the next day.

Ibn Abi Hatim reported from Abu Sa`id that the Messenger of Allah said,

إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ مَا يَفْتَحُ اللهُ لَكُمْ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا

Verily, the thing I fear most for you all is what Allah will allow you to acquire of the splendor of this world.

They (the Companions) said, "What is the splendor of this world, O Messenger of Allah?"

He said,

بَرَكَاتُ الاَْرْض

The blessings of the earth.

Qatadah and As-Suddi said,

"The splendor of this worldly life means the beautiful adornments of the life of this world."

Qatadah said,
لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ
(that We may test them thereby),

"So that We may put them to trial."

Concerning Allah's statement,