Lesson 7 From Surah Al-Kahf

Alhamdulillah last session, we were able to explore and discuss the meanings of verses 32-44. InshAllah, tonight we will be covering the meanings and lessons of verses 45-59. Verses 45-46 give us an example of the temporary nature of this world. Verses 47-49 describe some of the events that will take place on the Day of Judgment. Verses 50-53 discuss the story of Adam and Shaytān. Verses 54-59 discuss a number of topics related to Faith and the Quran.

Verse 45: Give them the parable (example) of the life of this world: It is like water We send down from the sky. Then it mixes with the vegetation of the earth. Then it becomes chaff, scattered by the winds. And Allah is capable of all things.

In these verses, Allah ﷻ gives us an example of the reality of the life of this world and its temporary and fleeting nature to show us its true value. Allah ﷻ wants us to recognize the true value of this life especially in comparison to the life to come. We’re reminded in a very brief yet powerful way that the life of this world is temporary and fleeting; that it will very quickly come to an end. This example highlights and emphasizes the main moral from the story of the man with two gardens that we covered last week.

Allah ﷻ tells the Prophet ﷺ to give his community an example of the life of this world. Tell them “It is like water We send down from the sky. Then it mixes with the vegetation of the earth. Then it becomes chaff, scattered by the winds.” The fleeting nature of this world is similar to plants and vegetation after they have been watered. Allah ﷻ sends down rain from the sky that causes the earth to turn green; it mixes with the vegetation of the earth giving it life, color, and vibrancy. We’re shown a very brief scene of life; the rain causes all these plants to grow. “Then it becomes chaff, scattered by the winds.” Chaff is lifeless matter; something that has no real value that is just scattered and blown away by the wind. That’s exactly how the life of this world is. At one moment it’s vibrant and alive and at the next moment, it will be gone. It doesn’t last. It has an expiration date. The world is just like a field of green crops, a beautiful, lush green garden. Something that brings enjoyment, pleasure, and benefit. But none of these things lasts forever. The crops, the plants, trees, and flowers slowly dry and start to turn yellow. Then it becomes straws like and crumbles. It goes from being something beautiful, useful and pleasing to being something that just blows away in the wind. Allah ﷻ is telling us that’s exactly how the world is. These are all the things we work for and invest in throughout our lives. We run after them, but in the end what happens? All of it ceases to exist. It no longer matters.

The only thing that actually remains is the consequences of our faith. Allah ends the verse by reminding us, “And Allah is capable of all things.” Meaning He has the power to create and the power to bring things to an end. This example of the life of the world has been given in the Quran in a number of different places. For instance, in Surah Yunus, and in Surah Al-Hadīd.

Allah then further clarifies this point by telling us what has true, everlasting value. He does so by contrasting it to what we value most in this world; wealth and children. The contrast between the two is very sharp and is meant to be hard hitting.

Verse 46: “Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world, and the everlasting good deeds are of far greater merit in your Lord’s sight and a far better source of hope.”

Wealth and children are two of the most important things that we value in this life; as a matter of fact, they’re probably the most important things in our lives. If we truly think about it the vast majority of our time, energy, resources and thoughts are spent on earning money and taking care of our children. We’re constantly worried about our jobs, salaries, savings, expenses, the mortgage, and the car payment. We’re continuously thinking about our children’s education; what school they’ll go to and what profession they’ll choose. So Allah ﷻ is reminding us that “wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world”.

The word “zīnah” means beauty, adornment and decoration. Wealth and children have been made attractive and beautiful for us; they capture our attention. Allah ﷻ tells us something similar in Surah Aali ‘Imran, “Made to seem fair unto mankind is the love of passions, among them women, children, hoarded heaps of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle and tillage. Those are the enjoyments of the life of this world. And Allah, with Him, is the beautiful return.” (3:14) It’s important to note that this isn’t a bad thing in and of itself. Islam doesn’t prevent us from enjoying these things. As a matter of fact, they have been praised elsewhere in the Qur’ān and Hadīth. But it does teach us the correct guidelines and ways in which to enjoy them. They should never take us away or prevent us from fulfilling our true purpose in life. And we’re reminded that just like anything else in this world they too will one day cease to exist. So we shouldn’t be fooled, deceived and tricked by them as well.

Rather we should focus on what is everlasting; those things that will benefit us in this world and more importantly in the next. “And the everlasting good deeds are of far greater merit in your Lord’s sight, and a far better source of hope.” “The everlasting good deeds” includes every single good deed we can think of; whether they’re big or small. This includes all acts of worship such as praying, fasting, giving charity, supplication, and dhikr. It includes being kind to our families, our parents, children, relatives, friends, and neighbors. All of these things “are of far greater merit in your Lord’s sight, and a far better source of hope.” Ibn ‘Abbas mention that the “everlasting good deeds” are the five daily prayers. He also said they are to say SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, la ilaha illa Allah and Allahu Akbar. ‘Uthman (ra) said they are to say la ilaha illah Allah, SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, and la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah. Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri narrates that the Prophet (saw) said, “Increase the everlasting virtues.” It was said, “What are they O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Al-Takbeer, al-tahleel, al-tasbeeh, al-tahmeed and la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.” Abu Darda narrates that the Prophet (saw) said, “SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, la ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar and la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, they are the everlasting good deeds. They shed sins like a tree sheds its leaves and they are from the treasures of Paradise.” ‘Ali said, “Wealth and children are the harvest of the world, and righteous deeds are the harvest of the hereafter. And Allah has gathered both for some people.”

• المال و البنون حرث الدنيا، و العمل الصالح حرث الآخرة، و قد جمعهما الله لأقوام.

All of these things are more valuable than any material possession. And the rationale behind it is simple and straightforward.

The Surah now transitions into a brief description of some of the events that will take place on the Day of Judgment; that Day when we’ll see the real value of the everlasting deeds.

Verses 47-48: On the Day We will set the mountains in motion, and you will see the earth an open plain. And We will gather them, and leave not one of them behind. They will be arrayed before your Lord in ranks. “Indeed you have come to Us as We created you the first time. Nay, but you claimed that We would never appoint a time for you.”

In these two verses, Allah informs us about four of the scary and frightening things that will take place on that Day. 1) “On the Day We will set the mountains in motion…” Meaning, imagine that day when We will uproot the mountains from their places and pulverize them into fine particles of dust as if they had never existed before. This will be an extraordinary sight; something that will strike terror and fear into the hearts of those who will see it. Mountains are the strongest and largest naturally occurring physical structures that we can see. They’re symbols of strength and stability. But on that day they will be turned into fine particles of dust.

2) “and you will see the earth an open plain.” Meaning, we will see the Earth fully exposed. Nothing will be on it; it will be completely empty. There will be no place for anyone to hide. It will be one big, flat surface without any hills, valleys or mountains.

3) “And We will gather them, and leave not one of them behind.” Every single human being from the beginning of time till the end of time, big and small, young and old, believers and non-believers will be gathered and held accountable for what they did in this world. Allah ﷻ tells us something very similar in Surah Al-Wāqi’ah. Say, “Indeed the former and the later peoples are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day.” Allah ﷻ also says in Surah Hūd, “That is a Day for which the people will be collected, and that is a Day [which will be] witnessed.”

4) They will be arrayed before your Lord in ranks. “Indeed you have come to Us as We created you the first time. Nay, but you claimed that We would never appoint a time for you.” All of mankind will be brought in front of Allah at once in lines. The commentators mentioned that people will be lined up in rows just as they are for prayer. Each row is occupied by a particular religious community. And then it will be said to them, “Indeed you have come to Us as We created you the first time. Nay, but you claimed that We would never appoint a time for you.” Meaning, just as Allah created humanity and brought them into existence from nothing, Allah will bring them back to life on the Day of Judgment. They will come before Allah ﷻ in the same state that they were created; barefoot, naked and alone without any belongings Just as Allah ﷻ says in Surah Al-An’ām, “Now you have come to Us alone, just as We created you the first time, and you have left behind that which We had bestowed upon you.” Similarly, Aisha narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “The people will be assembled on the Day of Resurrection barefoot, naked and uncircumcised.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah! Will the men and the women be together on that Day; looking at one another?” Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “O Aisha, the matter will be too serious for them to look at one another.”

• “‏ يُحْشَرُ النَّاسُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حُفَاةً عُرَاةً غُرْلاً ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ النِّسَاءُ وَالرِّجَالُ جَمِيعًا يَنْظُرُ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ قَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ يَا عَائِشَةُ الأَمْرُ أَشَدُّ مِنْ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

In order for them to feel the severity of the day and to create a greater sense of remorse, regret and sorrow it will then be said to them, “Nay, but you claimed that We would never appoint a time for you.” Meaning, you believed that this would never happen; that you would never be resurrected and never meet Allah and now here you are.

The Surah then continues to describe the scene on that day.

Verse 49: And the book will be set down. Then you will see the guilty fearful of what is in it. And they will say, “Oh woe unto us! What a book this is! It leaves out nothing, small or great, save that it has taken it into account.” And they find present therein whatsoever they did. And your Lord wrongs no one.

The “book” in this verse is referring to the book of deeds; the register in which all our deeds, good and bad, big and small, are recorded. This book of deeds serves as a comprehensive witness and record of whatever we say or do in the life of this world. This is the book we’ll receive on the Day of Judgment. Some will receive it in their right hands and others will receive it in their left hands. We ask Allah to make us amongst those who receive it in their right!

When the mujrimūn, the criminals, receive their books they will be extremely fearful of what is in it. They know that their book of deeds is full of sin and disobedience and that there’s no way for them to hide it. They realize that it is a comprehensive and accurate record and they fear the consequences. They feel this severe sense of fear, regret, remorse, embarrassment, helplessness, hopelessness and sorrow. So they will say, “Oh woe to us!” May we be cursed! May we be destroyed because of our negligence, disobedience, and sins. This is the cry of one who is worried, fearing the worst after he has been caught red-handed, unable to evade the results or find any justification. This is because he recognizes the accuracy of the record which puts before his eyes all that he has done. In their frustration, they will say, “What a book this is! It leaves out nothing, small or great, save that it has taken it into account.” This is an expression of absolute amazement and extreme shock. What a book! It hasn’t left our anything, bog or small, good or bad, significant or insignificant, except that it has been recorded in it. They fear both punishment from Allah ﷻ and disgrace in the eyes of other people. “And they find present therein whatsoever they did.” Big or small, good or bad.

Allah ﷻ tells us this elsewhere in the Qur’ān as well. “The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present [before it] and what it has done of evil, it will wish that between itself and that [evil] was a great distance. And Allah warns you of Himself, and Allah is Kind to [His] servants.” “Man will be informed that Day of what he sent ahead and kept back.”

All of this is done from the absolute justice of Allah ﷺ. “And your Lord wrongs no one.” Absolute justice and equality will be established on the Day of Resurrection. No individual will be wronged whatsoever and everyone will receive their rights in full. He will judge between His creatures for all of their deeds, and He will not treat any of His creatures with injustice. He will overlook and forgive and have mercy, and He will punish whomever He wills by His power, wisdom, and justice. He will fill Hell with the disbelievers and those who have been disobedient. Then He will rescue the disobedient, and leave the disbelievers there for eternity. He is the Judge Who never wrongs or oppresses. Allah says: “Surely, Allah wrongs not even of the weight of a speck of dust, but if there is any good, He doubles it…”

• ﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَـعِفْهَا﴾

“And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as Accountant.”