Surah 102. Al-Takathur

1.

The mutual rivalry for piling up (the good things of this world) diverts you (from the more serious things) ⁶²⁵⁷

Acquisitiveness, that is, the passion for seeking an increase in wealth, position, the number of adherents or followers or supporters, mass production and mass organisation, may affect an individual as such, or it may affect whole societies or nations. Other people's example or rivalry in such things may aggravate the situation. Up to a certain point it may be good and necessary. But when it becomes inordinate and monopolises attention, it leaves no time for higher things in life, and a clear warning is here sounded from a moral point of view. Man may be engrossed in these things till death approaches, and he looks back on a wasted life, as far as the higher things are concerned.

2.

Until ye visit the graves. ⁶²⁵⁸

That is, until the time comes when you must lie down in the graves and leave and pomp and circumstance of an empty life. The true Reality will then appear before you. Why not try to strive for a little understanding of that Reality in this very life?

3.

But nay ye soon shall know (the reality).

4.

Again, ye soon shall know!

5.

Nay were ye to know with certainty of mind (Ye would beware!) ⁶²⁵⁹

Three kinds of yaqin (certainty of knowledge) are described in n. 5673 to lxix. 51. The first is certainty of mind or inference mentioned here: we hear from someone, or we infer from something we know: this refers to our own state of mind. If we instruct our minds in this way, we should value the deeper things of life better, and not waste all our time in ephemeral things. But if we do not use our reasoning faculties now, we shall yet see with our own eyes, the Penalty for our sins. It will be certainty of sight. We shall see Hell. See next verse. But the absolute certainty of assured Truth is that described in lxix. 51. That is not liable to any human error or psychological defects.

6.

Ye shall certainly see Hell Fire! ⁶²⁶⁰

See xix. 71-72, and n. 2518.

7.

Again ye shall see it with certainty of sight!

8.

Then shall ye be Questioned that Day about the joy (ye indulged in)! ⁶²⁶¹

We shall be questioned, i.e., we shall be held responsible for every kind of joy we indulge in-whether it was false pride or delight in things of no value, or things evil, or the enjoyment of things legitimate,-the last, to see whether we kept this within reasonable bounds.