Surah 17:19
Show Full Scripture Context (17:18-19) — 2 Verses
مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلۡعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلۡنَا لَهُۥ فِيهَا مَا نَشَآءُ لِمَن نُّرِيدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلۡنَا لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ يَصۡلَىٰهَا مَذۡمُومٗا مَّدۡحُورٗا
Whoever desires this hasty (world) – We hasten to (give) him in it whatever We please to whomever We wish. Then We have made Gehenna for him, (where) he will burn, condemned (and) rejected.
وَمَنۡ أَرَادَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ وَسَعَىٰ لَهَا سَعۡيَهَا وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٞ فَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ كَانَ سَعۡيُهُم مَّشۡكُورٗا
But whoever desires the Hereafter and strives with effort for it, and he is a believer, those – their striving will be thanked.
18. Whoever desires the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell; he will burn therein disgraced and rejected.
19. And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it while he is a believer, then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, (rewarded by Allah).
The Reward of Those who desire this World and Those who desire the Hereafter
Allah tells us that not everyone who desires this world and its luxuries gets what he wants. That is attained by those whom Allah wants to have it, and they get what He wills that they should get. This Ayah narrows down the general statements made in other Ayat. Allah says:
We readily grant him what We will for whom We like, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell
meaning, in the Hereafter,
he will burn therein means, he will enter it until it covers on all sides,
disgraced means, blamed for his bad behaviour and evil deeds, because he chose the transient over the eternal,
rejected. means, far away (from Allah's mercy), humiliated and put to shame.
And whoever desires the Hereafter wanting the Hereafter and its blessings and delights,
and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 5, Page 598)