AL-MUSTAPHA INSTITUTE OF BRISBANE

Compiled by Br. Abdul-Halm Khall (09-05-14)

Tafsir exegesis of the Glorious Qurn
(critical explanation or interpretation)

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahm












The Necessary Solemnity of Surat At-Takthur
(The Chapter of Mutual Increase)





English Roman script
1. The mutual rivalry for piling up of
worldly things diverts you,
Al-hkumu l-takthuru
2. Until you visit the graves (i.e. until you
die).
hatt zur'tumu l-maqbira
3. Nay! You shall come to know!
kall sawfa talamna
4. Again, Nay! You shall come to know!
thumma kall sawfa talamna
5. Nay! If you knew with a sure knowledge
(the end result of piling up, you would not
have occupied yourselves in worldly things)
kall law talamna il'ma l-yaqni
6. Verily, You shall see the blazing Fire
(Hell)!
latarawunna l-jahma
7. And again, you shall see it with certainty
of sight!
thumma latarawunnah ayna l-yaqni
8. Then, on that Day, you shall be asked
about the delight (you indulged in, in this
world)!
1

thumma latus'alunna yawma-idhin ani l-
nami


1
This transliteration ascribes the venerable work of Dr. Muhsin Khan: see Muhammad M. Khan and Taqi al-Din
Hilali, Noble Quran (Dar-us-Salam, 1995).

1. Al-hkumu l-takthuru
Verse English Roman script Arabic


1.
Diverts you


The mutual rivalry for
piling up of worldly things
alhkumu


l-takthuru

2. Until

you visit

the graves.
hatt

zur'tumu

l-maqbira

3. Nay!

Soon

you shall know!
kall

sawfa

talamna

4. Again,

nay!

Soon

you shall know!
thumma

kall

sawfa

talamna

5. Nay!

If

you knew

(with) a knowledge

(of) certainty
kall

law

talamna

il'ma

l-yaqni

6. Verily! You shall see

the blazing Fire
latarawunna

l-jahma

7. (And) again,

you shall see it

(with the) eye

(of) certainty.
thumma

latarawunnah

ayna

l-yaqni

8. Then, thumma

surely, you shall be asked

that Day

about

the pleasures (you
indulged in, in this world)

latus'alunna

yawma-idhin

ani

l-nami

The Consequence of Preferring the Temporal Treasures:
Heedlessness of the Hereafter
Throughout the Glorious Qurn, Allh, Al-Hakm (The Perfectly Wise), unequivocally
depicts those that are utterly immersed in, and essentially overcome by, the fragrance of
this worldly life: viz., its delights and its treasures. Such scent of temporal pleasures
ensnares the senses, deceiving the heart, concealing it from the Mercy and Beneficence of
Allh (Ar-Ramn, Ar-Rahm)
2
and the true life hereafter Dr as-salm (The Home of
Peace),
3
Jannat al-Nam (The Gardens of Delight).
4
This preoccupation delays you, until
the visitation of death is upon you, and you enter the grave, without reprieve.

Indeed, it is reported upon the authority of Sahl bin Sa'd (radi Allhu anhu), who said:
I heard Ibn Az-Zubair (radi Allhu anhu), who was on the pulpit at Makkah, delivering a
sermon, saying,

O people! The Blessed Prophet ( ) used to say,

If the Son of dam ( ) were given a valley full of gold, he would love to have a
second one; and if he were given the second one, he would love to have a third, for nothing
fills the belly of the Son of dam ( ) except dust. And Allh Azza Wa-Jal forgives he
who repents to Him.

Ubai bin Kab (radi Allhu anhu) said, "We considered this as a Verse from the Qurn,
until the Srat (beginning with) The mutual rivalry for piling
up of worldly things diverts you.. (102.1) was revealed.
5


2
Al-Qurn Al-Majd, Srat Al-Ftihah (The Chapter of the Opening) 1:3 and Srat Ramn (The Chapter of
the Most Merciful).
3
Refer to Al-Qurn Al-Majd, Srat Ynus (The Chapter of the Prophet Yunus ) 10:25.
4
Refer to Al-Qurn Al-Majd, Srat Al-Midah (The Chapter of the Table Spread) 5:65, Srat Ynus (10:9),
and Srat Al-Hajj (The Chapter of the Pilgrimage) 22:56.
5
Reported in the venerable text, Sahh Al-Bukhari (Volume 8, Book 76, Hadth Number 446). Also, refer to
ahadth numbers 444, 445, and 447, of Volume 8, Book 76.


1. The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you

Furthermore, it is reported upon the authority of Imam Ahmad (ramtullahi alay), that
Abdullah bin Ash-Shikhkhir (radi Allhu anhu) narrates,
I came to the Messenger of Allh ( ) whilst he was reciting,
The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you
[At which Revelation]
The Son of dam (alayhis salm) exclaims, "My wealth, my wealth!''
Yet, do you obtain anything (of benefit) from your wealth except for that which you ate
and you finished it, or that which you clothed yourself with and you wore it out, or that
6
. which you gave as charity and you have spent it)

Evidently, as humanity grows old so also two (desires) grow old with [them], i.e., love
for wealth and (a wish for) a long life.
7
Therefore, as Rasl Allh ( ) advised us, that
[c]harity never causes ones level of wealth to decrease,
8
let us ever remember that our
wealth is (like) green and sweet (fruit), and whoever takes it without greed, Allh will bless it
for him, but whoever takes it with greed, Allh shall not bless it for him, and he shall be like
the one who eats, but is never satisfied. And the upper (giving) hand is better than the lower
(taking) hand, for [e]very person shall be under the shade of his own charity (on the Day of
Resurrection), until judgement is rendered amongst people.
9



6
Refer to Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal (translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab, Dar-us-salam, 2012) 4:24. This
hadith is also reported in the text of Sahh Muslim, albeit ascribing a different expression:
All that you have from your wealth is what you eat and thus cause to be used up; what you wear and
thus cause to be worn out; and what you give in charity and thus cause to remain (for your benefit)
(Hadth Number 2,598).
7
Reported upon the authority of Anas bin Malik (radi Allhu anhu), in the text of Sahh Al-Bukhari (Volume 8,
Book 76, Hadth Number 430). See, also, Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal (3:115).
8
Reported upon the authority of Abu Hurairah (radi Allhu anhu), in Sahh Muslim (Hadth Number 2,588).
9
Reported upon the authority of Uqbah ibn mir (radi Allhu anhu): this narration in related by Ibn
Khuzymah (radi Allhu anhu) in his Sahh (#2,431), by Ibn Hibbn in his Sahh (#3,310), and by Abu Naeem,
in Al-Hilyah (8/181).