Surah Al-Ḥadīd (57:20–21) forms one of the Qur'an's most profound passages on the reality of worldly life versus the eternal life of the Hereafter. These verses were revealed in Madinah, where the Muslim community was becoming established and experiencing increasing prosperity. Allah reminds the believers not to let material success distract them from their ultimate purpose. Verse 20 describes the temporary nature of this world, while verse 21 immediately redirects believers toward striving for Allah's forgiveness and Paradise. Together, they balance detachment from the dunya with active striving for the Ākhirah.
Verse 20
"Know that the life of this world is only play, amusement, adornment, boasting among yourselves, and competition in wealth and children. It is like rain whose resulting vegetation pleases the farmers; then it dries and you see it turn yellow; then it becomes debris. But in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure. And the life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion." (57:20)
- Context This verse does not condemn worldly life itself. Islam permits earning wealth, raising a family, enjoying Allah's blessings, and beautifying one's life within lawful limits. Rather, it warns against making the dunya one's ultimate goal.
- Allah describes the stages of worldly attachment:
- Play (لَعِبٌ) – the carefree pursuits of childhood.
- Amusement (لَهْوٌ) – distractions that consume time.
- Adornment (زِينَةٌ) – concern with appearance and status.
- Boasting (تَفَاخُرٌ) – pride in achievements and lineage.
- Competition in wealth and children (تَكَاثُرٌ) – endless rivalry for more.
- The imagery of rain and vegetation illustrates how worldly success flourishes briefly before fading into dry stubble. Human life follows a similar pattern: youth, strength, prosperity, decline, and death.
- Explanation by Classical scholars
- Ibn Kathīr explains that Allah compares worldly life to crops that delight farmers but soon wither, showing how quickly worldly attractions disappear. The lasting realities are Allah's forgiveness or His punishment.
- Al-Ṭabarī notes that every stage mentioned reflects a common preoccupation of human beings, yet all are temporary and cannot accompany a person into the grave.
- Al-Qurṭubī emphasizes that the world becomes blameworthy only when it distracts from obedience to Allah. Used in His service, worldly blessings become acts of worship.
We have already published a detailed exegesis of verse 20 which can be accessed from our post: O’ Man! Know that the life of this world is only amusement, adornment, boasting and competition
Verse 21
"Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills. And Allah is the Possessor of immense bounty." (57:21)
- Context
- After warning about worldly competition, Allah redirects that same human drive toward something worthy.
- People naturally compete for wealth, fame, influence, and recognition. Allah says: compete instead for forgiveness and Paradise.
- The command "Race" (سَابِقُوا) conveys urgency. Just as athletes strive for victory, believers should hasten toward repentance, righteous deeds, charity, prayer, patience, and beneficial knowledge.
- This verse parallels:
- 3:133: "Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden..."
- 23:61: "It is those who hasten to good deeds, and they are foremost in them."
- 83:26: "So for this let the competitors compete."
- Ibn Kathir
- Ibn Kathir explains that after showing how temporary worldly life is, Allah redirects believers to what deserves real effort. He notes that: the command "Race" (سَابِقُوا) indicates eagerness and urgency; forgiveness comes before Paradise because no one enters Paradise except through Allah's mercy and forgiveness; describing Paradise as "as wide as the heavens and the earth" emphasizes its unimaginable vastness rather than giving a geometric measurement.
- Ibn Kathir also relates this to the Prophet's encouragement to hasten toward good deeds before obstacles prevent them.
- Abul A'la Maududi's explanation Abul A'la Maududi focuses on the contrast between verses 20 and 21.
- He explains: Human beings naturally compete. Although Islam does not abolish competition. Islam redirects competition from temporary achievements to eternal success.
- He writes that worldly rivalry often produces: envy, arrogance, injustice, greed.
- Allah therefore invites believers to engage instead in a noble competition whose prize is Allah's forgiveness and Paradise.
- Maududi also notes that Paradise's vastness teaches that Allah's reward is beyond human imagination.
- Abdullah Yusuf Ali's explanation Abdullah Yusuf Ali sees the passage as a beautiful contrast.
- Verse 20 exposes: the glitter of the world.
- Verse 21 presents: the reality of eternity.
- Yusuf Ali explains that believers should not merely avoid worldly attachment but actively strive toward Allah.
- He remarks that Paradise is described in immense dimensions to help human minds grasp something that ultimately exceeds earthly comparison.
- Javed Ahmad Ghamidi's explanation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi emphasizes the literary flow of the passage. According to Ghamidi:
- Verse 20 dismantles the illusion that worldly life deserves ultimate devotion.
- Verse 21 immediately fills that vacuum by directing human ambition toward Allah.
- He stresses that Islam does not condemn worldly work, wealth, or family.
- Rather, it condemns making them life's highest purpose.
- The command to "race" means that a believer should pursue Allah's pleasure with the same determination that others pursue worldly success.
Relationship between the two verses
The two verses form a complete contrast:
Verse 20 Verse 21
Temporary enjoyment Eternal reward
Competing for wealth Competing for forgiveness
Crops that wither Paradise that never fades
Illusion Reality
Pride Humility before Allah
As can be seen from comparison above, Allah first changes our perspective, then redirects our ambition.
Connection with Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler." (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6416) [ Read explanation of hadith at: But the life of this world (compared to the Hereafter) is only a fleeting enjoyment]
And he also said: "The world is sweet and green, and Allah has made you successors in it to see how you will act." (Sahih Muslim, 2742)
These hadith complement the verses perfectly: the world is not to be abandoned, but it is a temporary trust and a place of testing.
What do these verses teach us today?
These verses are especially relevant in an age dominated by consumerism, social media, and constant comparison.
They remind us that likes, followers, possessions, titles, and status are temporary.
They expose the emptiness of defining success solely by wealth or recognition.
They encourage us to redirect our competitive spirit toward faith, character, generosity, and service.
They teach us to enjoy Allah's lawful blessings with gratitude while keeping our hearts attached to the Hereafter rather than to the fleeting attractions of this world.
They remind us that the true measure of success is not what we accumulate before death, but what we send ahead through sincere faith and righteous deeds.
A reflective summary
Surah Al-Ḥadīd 57:20–21 teaches that worldly life is like a beautiful crop after rain—captivating for a short time but destined to wither. Allah does not forbid the blessings of this world; rather, He warns us not to mistake the temporary for the eternal. Having exposed the illusion of worldly rivalry, He calls believers to race instead toward His forgiveness and the everlasting Paradise. The message is timeless: let the dunya remain in your hands, but let the Ākhirah remain in your heart, for only what is done for Allah will endure.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
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An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
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