The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 538
CH. 102 PT. 30 ركوعهـا سُورَةُ التَّكَاثُرِ مَكِيةٌ ۱۰۲ بسمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْهُكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُة حَتَّى زُرْتُمُ الْمَقَابِرَة كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ (AT-TAKĀTHUR) 1. "In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. 2. Mutual rivalry in seeking worldly increase, "diverts you from God 4827 3. Till you reach the graves. 4828 4. Nay! you will soon come to know the truth. "See 1:1. 24:38; 48:12; 62:10. 4827. Important Words: تكاثروا (mutual rivalry in worldly increase) is derived from i. e. it was or became much, abundant, copious, great in number; it multiplied; it accumulated. means, they contended, one with another, for superiority in numbers. means, contending with one superiority in numbers children and men. ت another for or property, means, his riches multiplied by degrees (Lane). Commentary: and man's Acquisitiveness inordinate desire to outstrip others in wealth, position and prestige lies at the root of all human troubles and the neglect of the higher values of life. It is man's great misfortune that his passion for acquiring worldly things knows no limit and leaves him no time to think of God or the Hereafter. He remains entirely engrossed in these things till death comes upon him. Against general practice, the verb عن Whas not been followed by the preposition in this verse. This enlarges the meaning of the verb, covering, as it does, all the things that are calculated to divert man's attention from God and not from any particular thing or object. 4828. Commentary: Man remains engrossed in acquiring worldly goods till death comes upon him and then he finds that he had wasted all his precious life. The verse also signifies that competition for superiority in wealth, position and numbers has led to the undoing of individuals and even of nations. Moral rather than physical death is meant here, because physical death comes uninvited, but himself brings about his moral death. So it is not unqualified rivalry and vying with one another that is condemned here. On the contrary, believers have been exhorted in the Quran to endeavour to outstrip one another in doing good (2:149 & 3434 man