Overview (Verses 15 - 16)

Despite their failure to meet the challenge, their stubborn rejection of the self- evident truth continued. Their rejection was motivated by their unwillingness to relinquish their privileges in this life. They had the wealth and power to subjugate and deprive others of a chance to respond to the call of freedom, dignity and justice, the call to believe that there is no deity but God. Therefore, the following verse describes their true situation and their inevitable destiny: “As for those who desire only the life of this world and its bounties, We shall fully repay them in this life for all they do, and they shall suffer no diminution of their just dues. It is they who, in the life to come, shall have nothing but the fire. In vain shall be all that they have done in this world, and worthless shall be all their actions.” (Verses 15-16)

Efforts made in this life will produce their results. This is so whether the person who exercises such efforts limits his aspirations to his immediate benefit or has higher aspirations. Hence, the person whose cares are limited to this life and its luxuries and who pins his ambitions to only what this life can offer will have his results in this world to enjoy them as he wishes until the arrival of his appointed time. He will, however, have nothing in the hereafter but the fire of hell, because he has not taken the hereafter into account and has not worked for it. He receives the rewards of his worldly actions in this world. It is natural that such work will be worthless in the hereafter. The Arabic expression provides a very apt image of an action which seems to bring fat results in this world but leads to destruction in the next.

We see all around us people, individuals and communities, whose aspirations do not go beyond this world, and who actually have abundant enjoyment. We need not wonder about and question this. For this is the rule God has established for this life: “As for those who desire only the life of this world and its bounties, We shall fully repay them in this life for all they do, and they shall suffer no diminution of their just dues.” (Verse 15)

Having accepted this rule, we must not forget that these very people could have gone about their lives doing the same things but pinning their aspirations to the hereafter and observing God’s laws in their lives. Had they done so, they would have had, as a result, the same bounties in this world and received, in addition, the bounties of the life to come.

To work for the hereafter is no impediment to working for this world. Indeed it is the same action provided that it is done with an eye to earning God’s pleasure. To observe God’s laws does not limit our scope of action or reduce its effects. Indeed, it increases and blesses both the effort and the result: it makes both our earnings and our enjoyment of what we earn good and blessed, and then it enhances our enjoyment of the limitless pleasures in the hereafter. The only restriction is that we should not seek the enjoyment of what is forbidden. For what is forbidden leads to ruin, not only in the hereafter, but here as well, though the latter may be delayed. This law of nature applies to both individuals and communities alike. History is a witness to the destiny of every community which over-indulged itself in forbidden desires.

Having explained these issues with such clarity, the sūrah points out the pagan Arabs’ attitude towards the Prophet, the truth God revealed to him, the Qur’ān which testifies that what he stands for is evidenced by clear proof given by God, and that he is a messenger sent by God. Not only so, but the revelations given to Moses also testify to these facts. The aim here being to support the Prophet and the small group of believers who accepted his message. The Qur’ān also warns the unbelievers who reject his message that they will suffer the fire of hell. It paints a picture of the Day of Judgement, whereby their suffering is compounded by humiliation. This is a just retribution for their arrogance. They are unable to escape God’s punishment, and cannot find anyone to support them against God. Hence they are the losers as compared with the believers. A tangible image is drawn portraying the wide gulf between the two groups, their natures and attitudes, as well as their respective positions in this life and in the hereafter.