Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (24) Surah: Yūnus
إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَٱخۡتَلَطَ بِهِۦ نَبَاتُ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِمَّا يَأۡكُلُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمُ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَخَذَتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ زُخۡرُفَهَا وَٱزَّيَّنَتۡ وَظَنَّ أَهۡلُهَآ أَنَّهُمۡ قَٰدِرُونَ عَلَيۡهَآ أَتَىٰهَآ أَمۡرُنَا لَيۡلًا أَوۡ نَهَارٗا فَجَعَلۡنَٰهَا حَصِيدٗا كَأَن لَّمۡ تَغۡنَ بِٱلۡأَمۡسِۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لِقَوۡمٖ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
(24) [2334]Indeed the example of the worldly life is nothing more than water that We send down from the sky; [2335]soon it gets mixed in the plants of the ground, the kind that people and animals consume[2336], until when the land assumes its ornament and beautifies[2337] itself and its owners become sure that they are able over it[2338], ˹there˺ comes upon it Our Command[2339] at night or in the morning and We make it mowed as if it did not thrive ˹only˺ yesterday—thus We detail the Signs for people who ponder[2340].
[2334] Now that the precariousness of life has been so beautifully captured, its transient nature is depicted here through potent analogy. This is so people may realize that life is nothing but an illusory enjoyment (cf. 3: 185) and that there is no escape from God except to Him (cf. Abū Ḥayyān, Riḍā).
[2335] The language employed also draws a picture of an ephemeral, cursory life; no sooner than the rain falls, plants grow to their full glory only then to wither away (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr). The same expressive language is employed elsewhere but, given the context of the aya, it puts more emphasis on the transitory and brief nature of life: “And give them ˹Muhammad˺ the example of the worldly life: like water that We send down from the sky, soon it gets mixed in the plants of the ground, ˹lo˺ it become chaff, scattered by the winds—Allah is ever Able over everything” (18: 45).
[2336] Further, this fleeting nature of life is tangibly portrayed by liking it to the commonplace plants that are easily available for consumption by humans and animals alike; nothing hard to come by or enduring!
[2337] “And you see the land lifeless, but as soon as We send rain down on it, it stirs ˹to life˺ and swells, and produces every type of pleasant plant” (22: 5). The depiction of plants appearing so appealing to sight suggests a beauty who wears her best and, thus, is coveted by all. Little do they know that looks are deceiving! (Cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr)
[2338] That is they become sure that they will reap its harvest (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr).
[2339] God’s decree of its destruction (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah).
[2340] This life is nothing but an illusory enjoyment (3: 185) that will soon come to an abrupt end by death, but the Hereafter is the real life, the everlasting abode, that those of sound reason need to strive for: “The life of this world is merely a plaything and a distraction; the true life is in the Final Abode, if only they knew” (29: 64); “Know you all that the life of this world is but a plaything, a distraction, an ornament, mutual boasting among you, and vying for increase in property and children—as the likeness of of a rain whose vegetation impresses the farmers; then it withers such that you see it turn yellow; then it becomes chaff. And in the Hereafter there shall be severe Punishment, forgiveness from Allah, and Pleasure, and the life of this world is naught but an illusory enjoyment” (57: 20); “Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs in the ground; then He produces thereby crops of varying colours; then they dry and you see them turn yellow; then He makes them crumbled to dust. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of reason” (39: 21).
[2335] The language employed also draws a picture of an ephemeral, cursory life; no sooner than the rain falls, plants grow to their full glory only then to wither away (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr). The same expressive language is employed elsewhere but, given the context of the aya, it puts more emphasis on the transitory and brief nature of life: “And give them ˹Muhammad˺ the example of the worldly life: like water that We send down from the sky, soon it gets mixed in the plants of the ground, ˹lo˺ it become chaff, scattered by the winds—Allah is ever Able over everything” (18: 45).
[2336] Further, this fleeting nature of life is tangibly portrayed by liking it to the commonplace plants that are easily available for consumption by humans and animals alike; nothing hard to come by or enduring!
[2337] “And you see the land lifeless, but as soon as We send rain down on it, it stirs ˹to life˺ and swells, and produces every type of pleasant plant” (22: 5). The depiction of plants appearing so appealing to sight suggests a beauty who wears her best and, thus, is coveted by all. Little do they know that looks are deceiving! (Cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr)
[2338] That is they become sure that they will reap its harvest (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr).
[2339] God’s decree of its destruction (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn ʿAṭiyyah).
[2340] This life is nothing but an illusory enjoyment (3: 185) that will soon come to an abrupt end by death, but the Hereafter is the real life, the everlasting abode, that those of sound reason need to strive for: “The life of this world is merely a plaything and a distraction; the true life is in the Final Abode, if only they knew” (29: 64); “Know you all that the life of this world is but a plaything, a distraction, an ornament, mutual boasting among you, and vying for increase in property and children—as the likeness of of a rain whose vegetation impresses the farmers; then it withers such that you see it turn yellow; then it becomes chaff. And in the Hereafter there shall be severe Punishment, forgiveness from Allah, and Pleasure, and the life of this world is naught but an illusory enjoyment” (57: 20); “Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs in the ground; then He produces thereby crops of varying colours; then they dry and you see them turn yellow; then He makes them crumbled to dust. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of reason” (39: 21).
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (24) Surah: Yūnus
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into English - in progress - translated by Dr. Walid Bleihesh Al-Omari.