Sūrat Ṭāhā
Section 18 of 18 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Do Not Stretch Your Eyes
Finally, the closing verses of the sūrah. In verse 131 Allah says:
وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ
“Never stretch your eyes towards the things We have given to some groups of them to enjoy, so that We put them to test thereby, it being merely glamour of the worldly life. And the bounty of your Lord is much better and more lasting.” (20:131)
Do not extend your vision and your gaze towards those to whom We have given the various luxuries and bounties, the comforts of the world. Zahrata al-ḥayāti al-dunyā: they are no more than the adornments of the world. Li-naftinahum fīh: We have done this to test them and try them. Wa-rizqu rabbika khayrun wa-abqā: the sustenance of your Lord is superior, and goes much further — it is more everlasting.
وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا ۖ لَا نَسْـَٔلُكَ رِزْقًا ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ ۗ وَٱلْعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ
“Bid your family to perform Salāh, and adhere to it yourself. We ask no provision from you. We give provision to you. And the ultimate end is in favour of Taqwā (God-fearing, and piety).” (20:132)
Then Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him): wa-ʾmur ahlaka bi-l-ṣalāti wa-ṣṭabir ʿalayhā — command your family to pray, and remain constant upon it. Lā nasʾaluka rizqan naḥnu narzuquk, wa-l-ʿāqibatu li-l-taqwā.
And in the last verse the Prophet (peace be upon him) is told to say to them:
قُلْ كُلٌّ مُّتَرَبِّصٌ فَتَرَبَّصُوا۟ ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ ٱلسَّوِىِّ وَمَنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ
“Say, “Everyone is waiting. So wait, then you will know who the people of the straight path are and who has followed the right guidance.”” (20:135)
Everyone is waiting; wait, then, yourselves, to see what the outcome will be. Fa-sa-taʿlamūna man aṣḥābu al-ṣirāṭi al-sawiyyi wa-mani ihtadā: and you will soon learn who are the people of the balanced path, and who are guided. We ask Allah to make us of the guided ones.