Transliteration:( Wa inna lanaa lal Aakhirata wal oolaa )
13. "And verily to Us belongs [11] the Hereafter and the present life."
This verse emphasizes that both the present world and the Hereafter belong to Allah Almighty. Allah holds authority over both realms, and it is His will that determines the fate of all that exists. This guidance encourages believers to seek both the world and the Hereafter in accordance with Allah’s command.
Some people focus only on the world, neglecting the Hereafter, while others focus solely on the Hereafter, forsaking worldly pursuits. The most virtuous are those who seek both, aiming for prosperity in both realms. Those who seek only the world are considered wretched, while those who seek both worlds are pious and balanced in their approach to life.
Seeking guidance from the Prophets and Saints for both worldly and spiritual matters is not sinful but in alignment with divine wisdom. Just as one might seek medical treatment from a physician for worldly ailments, seeking help from righteous figures in both worlds is part of fulfilling Allah’s plan.
While the world is transient and temporary, the Hereafter is eternal. The Hereafter is the true goal, with the world serving as a means to attain that goal. In the Hereafter, there will be no disobedience, while in this world, disobedience and rejection of the Hereafter are common. The emphasis on the Hereafter is therefore placed first in the verse, highlighting its eternal nature.
Life in the world is a time for striving—building homes, raising children, acquiring education, and working to fulfill one’s purpose. It is a period of planting seeds for a future reward. The Hereafter, on the other hand, is where one reaps the fruits of their efforts and finds peace, rest, and comfort if Allah wills.
The tafsir of Surah Al-Lail verse 13 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Al-Lail ayat 12 which provides the complete commentary from verse 12 through 21.
(92:13) and to Us belong the Next Life and the present.[8]
8. This statement has several meanings and all are correct:
(1) That from the world till the Hereafter, you are nowhere beyond Our grasp, for Ours are both this and the next world.
(2) That both this world and the Hereafter are in any case under Our sovereignty, whether you follow the way shown by Us or not. If you adopt error, you will not harm Us but only yourselves; and if you adopt the right way, you will not do any good to Us, but will do good only to yourselves. Your disobedience cannot cause any decrease in Our sovereignty and your obedience cannot cause any increase in it.
(3) That We alone are Master of both the worlds. If you seek the world, We alone can grant it; and if you seek the well being of the Hereafter, We alone have the power to bestow it too.
This very theme has been expressed in Surah Aal-Imran, Ayat 145: Whoso makes effort with the intention of the reward of this world, We will reward him in this world, and whoso makes effort with the intention of the reward of the Hereafter, We shall grant him thereof. And the same has been expressed in Surah Ash-Shuara, Ayat 20, thus: Whoever seeks the harvest of the Hereafter, We do increase his harvest; and whoever seeks the harvest of this world, We do give him of it here, but in the Hereafter he will have no share at all. For explanation, see (Surah Al-Imran, ayat 146); (Surah Ash-Shura, ayat 48).
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