Surah 3:198
Show Full Scripture Context (3:196-198) — 3 Verses
لَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِي ٱلۡبِلَٰدِ
Do not let the disbelievers’ comings and goings in the lands deceive you.
مَتَٰعٞ قَلِيلٞ ثُمَّ مَأۡوَىٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمِهَادُ
A little enjoyment (of life), then their refuge is Gehenna – it is an evil resting place!
لَٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوۡاْ رَبَّهُمۡ لَهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٞ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا نُزُلٗا مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرٞ لِّلۡأَبۡرَارِ
But the ones who guard (themselves) against their Lord – for them (there are) Gardens through which rivers flow, there to remain. A reception from God! And what is with God is better for the pious.
Allah said, do not look at the disbelievers, who are enjoying various delights and joys. Soon, they will loose all this and be tied to their evil works, for verily, we are only giving them time, which deceives them, when all they have is,
This Ayah is similar to several other Ayat, such as,
{None disputes in the Ayat of Allah but those who disbelieve. So, let not their ability of going about here and there through the land deceive you!} 40:4,
{Verily, those who invent a lie against Allah, will never be successful. (A brief) enjoyment in this world! and then unto Us will be their return, then We shall make them taste the severest torment because they used to disbelieve.} 10:69-70,
{We let them enjoy for a little while, then in the end We shall oblige them to (enter) a great torment.} 31:24,
{So, give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while.} 86:17.
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 2, Page 355-356)