Surah 29:64

"This present life is nothing but jest and diversion. Surely the Home of the Hereafter – it is life indeed, if (only) they knew."

Christian Footnotes (1)Islamic Commentaries (1)Manuscripts (43)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir Verses 29:64-66

Show Full Scripture Context (29:64-66) — 3 Verses

Verse 64

وَمَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَآ إِلَّا لَهۡوٞ وَلَعِبٞۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ لَهِيَ ٱلۡحَيَوَانُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ

This present life is nothing but jest and diversion. Surely the Home of the Hereafter – it is life indeed, if (only) they knew.

Verse 65

فَإِذَا رَكِبُواْ فِي ٱلۡفُلۡكِ دَعَوُاْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّىٰهُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡبَرِّ إِذَا هُمۡ يُشۡرِكُونَ

When they sail in the ship, they call on God, devoting (their) religion to Him. But when He brings them safely to the shore, suddenly they associate (other gods with Him).

Verse 66

لِيَكۡفُرُواْ بِمَآ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمۡ وَلِيَتَمَتَّعُواْۚ فَسَوۡفَ يَعۡلَمُونَ

Let them be ungrateful for what We have given them, and enjoy (themselves). Soon they will know!

This is like the Ayah,

And when harm touches you upon the sea, those that you call upon vanish from you except Him (Allah Alone). But when He brings you safely to land, you turn away.

Allah says here:

Quoted Scripture

"but when He brings them safely to land, behold, they give a share of their worship to others."

Muhammad bin Ishaq reported from ‘Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl that when the Messenger of Allah conquered Makkah, he (Ikrimah) ran away, fleeing from him. When he was on the sea, headed for Ethiopia, the ship started to rock and the crew said: “O people, pray sincerely to your Lord alone, for no one can save us from this except Him.” ‘Ikrimah said: “By Allah, if there is none who can save us on the sea except Him, then there is none who can save us on land except Him either, O Allah, I vow to You that if I come out of this, I will go and put my hand in the hand of Muhammad and I will find him kind and merciful.” And this is what indeed did happen.

Quoted Scripture

"So that they become ingrate for that which We have given them, and that they take their enjoyment,"

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 7, Page 513)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.

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