Al-Qur'an Surah Al-'Ankabut Verse 64

Mufti Taqi Usmani

This worldly life is nothing but an amusement and play, and the Last Abode is the real life indeed. Only if they know!

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

This worldly life is no more than play and amusement. But the Hereafter is indeed the real life, if only they knew.

Ruwwad Translation Center

The life of this world is nothing but amusement and play, and the Abode of the Hereafter is indeed the real life, if only they knew.

A. J. Arberry

This present life is naught but a diversion and a sport; surely the Last Abode is Life, did they but know.

Abdul Haleem

The life of this world is merely an amusement and a diversion; the true life is in the Hereafter, if only they knew.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And this life of the world is but: sport and play. Verily the home of the Hereafter--that is life indeed, if they but knew!

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

What is the life of this world but amusement and play? but verily the Home in the Hereafter,- that is life indeed, if they but knew.

Abul Ala Maududi

The present life is nothing but sport and amusement. The true life is in the Abode of the Hereafter; if only they knew.

Ahmed Ali

The life of this world is only a sport and play. It is surely the home of the Hereafter that will indeed be life extended and new, if only they knew!

Ahmed Raza Khan

And this worldly life is nothing but pastime and game; indeed the abode of the Hereafter – that is indeed the true life; if only they knew.

Ali Quli Qarai

The life of this world is nothing but diversion and play, but the abode of the Hereafter is indeed Life (itself), had they known!

Ali Ünal

The present, worldly life is nothing but a pastime and play, but the abode of the Hereafter is truly alive. If they but knew.

Amatul Rahman Omar

The life of this world is nothing but futile and frivolous and the abode of the Hereafter is the real life (being eternal). If they but knew (they would have paid heed).

English Literal

And this the life the present/worldly life is not except a play thing/amusement/diversion and playing/enjoyment , and that the end`s (other life`s) home/house (E) it is (E) the life if they were knowing.

Faridul Haque

And this worldly life is nothing but pastime and game; indeed the abode of the Hereafter - that is indeed the true life; if only they knew.

Hamid S. Aziz

And if you should ask them, "Who causes water to come down from the sky and revives therewith the earth after its death?" they will surely say, "Allah!" Say, "And praise be to Allah!" But most of them have no sense.

Hilali & Khan

And this life of the world is only amusement and play! Verily, the home of the Hereafter, that is the life indeed (i.e. the eternal life that will never end), if they but knew

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Allah makes abundant the means of subsistence for whom He pleases of His servants, or straitens (them) for him. Surely Allah is Knower of all things.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And this life of the world is nothing but a sport and a play; and as for the next abode, that most surely is the life-- did they but know!

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

This life of the world is but a pastime and a game. Lo! the home of the Hereafter - that is Life, if they but knew.

Muhammad Sarwar

The worldly life is not more than a childish game. It is the life hereafter which will be the real life, if only they knew it.

Qaribullah & Darwish

The life of this world is nothing but a diversion and play. Indeed, the Everlasting Residence is the Eternal Life, if they but knew.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And this life of the world is only an amusement and a play! Verily, the home of the Hereafter -- that is the life indeed, if they but knew.

Wahiduddin Khan

The life of this world is nothing but sport and a diversion. It is the life of the Hereafter which is the only true life, if they but knew it.

Talal Itani

The life of this world is nothing but diversion and play, and the Home of the Hereafter is the Life, if they only knew.

Tafsir jalalayn

And the life of this world is nothing but diversion and play, whereas closeness [to God] pertains to concern for the Hereafter, since the fruits thereof will be revealed in it. But surely the Abode of the Hereafter is indeed the [true] Life, if they only knew, this, [then] they would not prefer this world to it.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah says;

وَمَا هَذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ

And this life of the world is only an amusement and a play!

Allah tells us how insignificant and transient this world is, and how it will soon end. All that it is, is amusement and play;

وَإِنَّ الدَّارَ الاْإخِرَةَ لَهِيَ الْحَيَوَانُ

Verily, the home of the Hereafter -- that is the life indeed,

means, the true everlasting life that will never end, but will continue forever and ever.

لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ



if they but knew.

means, they would prefer that which will last over that which will pass away.

Then Allah says that at times of calamity, the idolators call upon Him alone, with no partner or associate, so why do they not do that all the time!