Translation
(Recall) those before you—they enjoyed the gift of wealth and family and were (even) stronger than you. They took the easy way to enjoy what they were given, and you also did the same as did those of your previous generations and you engaged in idle talk and sporting about life as they did. For such as these people, their life and work came to nothing in this world and in the hereafter and in the end they did not profit from this life (that God had gifted). Have you heard the story of such people—the community of Noah, the A’d, Thamud, the people of Abraham, the residents of Midian and in cities that were turned upside down. Messengers from God came to them with guidance, clearly articulated and reasoned with. God was not unjust to them, but they suffered the consequence of their own transgression.437
Those who have faith—men and women, are each other’s caretakers. They strive to establish what is good, struggle against evil, establish worship of God, take care of the needy [through Zakat] and align themselves with the guidance from God and His Messenger. These are the people who deserved to have God’s mercy and support. God is Ever Mighty, Wise!
God had promised to the faithful—men and women, Gardens of peace and plenty, to reside in them and a good life in such Gardens of perpetuity. The greatest of all success is God’s good grace—best of all achievements and grandeur that are possible! 438
Interpretation
437 Through reminders such as these to make us reflect on our current condition in light of previous generations and through storytelling, God forces our intellect and our conscience to be tuned to the realities of life. Such a life, as gifted by God, needs to be purposeful and beneficial to others—humans, creatures of this world, the world itself as part of a larger construct that we are made part of. Simple enjoyment and consumption and going through the process of life focused only on material gains and personal selfish pursuits is necessary but cannot be the sole purpose of life. Each of our lives should be bigger than ourselves and should exist to better everyone around us and make the world that provides us our sustenance a better place for all of us. The absence of such commitments and pursuits makes us fall short of what we are meant to be when God honored the children of Adam and made us the caretakers of this planet.
438 In the background of those who fail their lives through negligence and become mere consumers of life, God encourages us to become like people of faith and goodness who take care of one another, fight for justice and truth, remove evils from society, and align themselves with God and His guidance. Such acts of devotion and human bonds create a world of peace and prosperity, not only in this life but also preparing the way for the life of perpetuity (afterlife), where God promises even better life—a life of peace and grace from God, which is the ultimate success for each and every one of us.
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REFLECTION
Books of revelation such as this Qur’an and other scriptures that continue to exist, and the continuing body of human knowledge, point to a higher purpose in life, a life that is spent not only to take care of oneself but a life that uplifts and dignifies everyone and everything around us. Our soul, our conscience, and our sense of innate satisfaction and contentment all stems from such a state of affairs; the sooner we come to grips with this, the better we will become, and the better we can prepare and serve out our purpose.
ACTION
As encouraged by God, not only by reason of our human construct but also by His scheme of reward and punishment in this life and in the life to come, we need to align ourselves with God and His consistent guidance to seek truth and ensure justice, to take care of one another, especially of those who are vulnerable, restrain the hands that do evil and oppress people, stop human pursuits that destroy our environment and exploit natural resources to benefit only a few at the expense of many, and bring the world together, which is becoming increasingly polarized around gender, race, religion, ethnicity, ideology at the expense of human equality, human dignity, and human freedom.