Verse 16: Has the time not yet come for believers’ hearts to be humbled at the remembrance of Allah and what has been revealed of the truth, and not be like those given the Scripture before—˹those˺ who were spoiled for so long that their hearts became hardened. And many of them are ˹still˺ rebellious.

Verse 17: Know that Allah revives the earth after its death. We have certainly made the signs clear for you so perhaps you will understand.

Verse 18: Indeed, those men and women who give in charity and lend to Allah a good loan will have it multiplied for them, and they will have an honorable reward.

Verse 19: ˹As for˺ those who believe in Allah and His messengers, it is they who are ˹truly˺ the people of truth. And the martyrs, with their Lord, will have their reward and their light. But ˹as for˺ those who disbelieve and reject Our signs, it is they who will be the residents of the Hellfire.

Verse 20: Know that this worldly life is no more than play, amusement, luxury, mutual boasting, and competition in wealth and children. This is like rain that causes plants to grow, to the delight of the planters. But later the plants dry up and you see them wither, then they are reduced to chaff. And in the Hereafter, there will be either severe punishment or forgiveness and pleasure of Allah, whereas the life of this world is no more than the delusion of enjoyment.

Verse 21: ˹So˺ compete with one another for forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers. This is the favor of Allah. He grants it to whomever He wills. And Allah is the Lord of infinite bounty.

Has the time not yet come?

Verse 16 begins with an admonishment and one of the most powerful reminders for introspection in the Quran. Allah asks us -

From this verse, we are confronted with the question:

Has the time not yet come?

Has the time not yet come for you to consistently pray, fast, exemplify Islamic character, abandon sinfulness, etc.? Has the time not yet come for you to fulfill the obligation of [insert act of worship here]? Has the time not yet come for you to abandon [insert habitual sin here]?

Has the time not yet come for you to read, research, and see the signs of Allah? You said you would read the articles, discuss the videos, and engage in serious conversations in order to find the truth of life…If you were to die after all these missed opportunities, during which you prioritized trivial matters, what would you say to Allah?

If not now, then when?

Allah can revive lifeless hearts

Every spring, Allah brings the earth back to life. This miracle is meant to serve as a reminder that our hearts can also be brought back to life after their spiritual death.

Just like the rain nourishes the earth, the Quran nourishes our souls.

Similarly, the rain, just like the Quran, cannot be man-made or pursued without Allah’s Mercy.

Therefore, if you are seeking guidance, turn back to Allah and engage with the Quran, for “…the cure for the hardened heart is dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and the greatest dhikr is The Qur’an”.

Types of believers

In verse 19, Allah describes two types of believers, namely the siddiqun (the truthful) and the shuhada (martyrs).

The siddiqun are the best of the followers of the Prophets because they:

• Refrain from what Allah has prohibited and fulfill what He has commanded.
• Have great ambition, aiming for the highest levels of paradise and aspiring to be amongst the closest to Allah.
• Have complete Yaqin (conviction in the truth) in the Quran and the Prophets.

“Ibn al-Qayyim (renowned medieval Islamic scholar) said: The adjective “siddiq” was given to the greatest of people after the prophets and messengers, to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and his daughter Aishah al-Siddiqa”.

In this verse, the shuhada (martyrs) are specifically referring to those who die in battle while defending Islam. However, in a hadith, the Prophet said that the general category of shuhada includes those who die from:

• Plague
• Drowning
• Stomach disease
• A woman who dies from childbirth

Alongside to the siddiqun and the shuhada, those who have the highest levels of paradise include those who loved each other for Allah’s sake and the companions of the Quran.

The reality of the Dunya

Allah compares the life of this world to a lush green field that eventually withers, leaving only dust behind. Similarly our lives are characterized by growth and maturity followed by loss of strength and death.

This parable is meant to teach us that life is fleeting. The temptations of this world, with its promise of fulfillment and instant gratification, have only increased. Today, the temptation to waste one’s life with trivial games, entertainment, and social media is staggering. However, those who take the warnings of this verse seriously can free themselves from the shackles of this world.

“Saʿid b. Jubayr (renowned student of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) said, ‘The deceptive enjoyment is for those who do not use this life to seek out the hereafter, but those who seek out the afterlife will have something much greater than any enjoyment of this world’”.

These ayat leave us with an important question: With the lifespan that Allah has given you, with your talents, with your time, what are you racing towards?

Implementing these verses

1. Action Item: “Write a letter to yourself from the grave. Now that the opportunity to do good deeds has ended, what do you wish you would have done? What needs to change now?”
2. Allah instructs us to contemplate on the wonders of nature so that we can strengthen our understanding of our faith. Action Item: Set aside some time each week to go outside and reflect.
3. Reflect: “How honest are you in general and as a believer?”
4. Reflect: If you were to advise a friend, what would be your top three suggestions on how to avoid over-consumption of entertainment? How can you now implement these suggestions in your own life?
5. Reflect: Consider the top 5 things you’re racing towards in life. How do these goals align with seeking Allah’s pleasure and reaching Paradise?