Quran/3/14

See also Quran/9/24, Quran/18/7, Quran/18/28, Quran/18/46, dua/51_on_guidance_piety_chastity_contentment, and Talk:Quran/102/1

Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.

An ƙawata wa mutãne son sha'awõyi daga mãtã da ɗiya da dũkiyõyi abũbuwan tãrãwa daga zinariya da azurfa, da dawãki kiwãtattu da dabbõbin ci da hatsi. Wannan shi ne dãɗin rãyuwar dũniya. Kuma Allah a wurinsa kyakkyãwar makõma take. --Quran/3/14

Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return

The enjoyment of ˹worldly˺ desires—women, children, treasures of gold and silver, fine horses, cattle, and fertile land—has been made appealing to people. These are the pleasures of this worldly life, but with Allah is the finest destination.

An kawata wa mutane son sha'awoyi daga mata da diya da dukiyoyi abubuwan tarawa daga zinariya da azurfa, da dawaki kiwatattu da dabbobin ci da hatsi. Wannan shi ne dadin rayuwar duniya. Kuma Allah a wurinsa kyakkyawar makoma take.

An ƙawata wa mutane son abubuwan sha'awa, irin su mata, da ’ya'ya, da taskoki cike da zinari da azurfa, kuma da dawakai zaɓaɓɓu, da dabbobin ni'ima, da shuke-shuke. Wannan falala ce kawai ta rayuwar duniya. Kuma mafi kyawun makoma na wurin Allah. [1]

[3:14] An qawata wa mutane abubuwan jin dadin duniya, irin su mata, samun yara, tarin yawan zinariya da azurfa, horarun dawakai, dobbobi da hatsi. Wa’annan abubuwan rayuwan duniya ne. Wurin zaman da ya fi yana wurin ALLAH. [2]

An ƙawata wa mutane son sha'awace-sha'awace na mata da 'ya'ya da dukiya mai yawa abar tarawa ta zinariya da azurfa da kuma kiwatattun dawaki da dabbobi na gida da amfanin gona. Waɗannan duk morewa ce ta rayuwar duniya; Allah kuwa a wurinsa ne kyakkyawar makoma take. --Rijiyar Lemo

A Discourse on Sexual Desire [3]

K NOW that man has been made subject to sexual desire for two beneficial reasons. The first of these is that by know¬ ing its delight he is able to draw an analogy which suggests to him what the delight of the Afterlife must be like. For the delight of the sexual act, were it to last, would be the greatest pleasure of the body, just as the pain of a bum is the body’s greatest agony. Encouragement and deterrance [al-targhib wa’l- tarhib\, which drive people towards their saving happiness, can only be brought about by means of palpable pain and pleasure, since what cannot be perceived through experience will never be greatly desired. The second reason is that it allows the human race to continue and the world [ c alam] to abide. Such are its benefits/

However, sexual desire also contains evils which may destroy both religion and the world if it is not controlled and subjugated, and restored to a state of equilibrium. It has been said that His word (Exalted is He!), O our Lord! Burden us not with more than we can bear!' refers, when correctly interpreted, to powerful lust . 2 And Ibn ‘Abbas understood His word

A Cf. also the five ‘benefits of marriage’ expounded by Ghazali in Ihyd\ II. 22-30 ( K. Adab al-nikdh , bab 1, Afat al-nikah wa-fawa’iduh), namely: (1) obtaining children who will serve their parents and pray for them; (2) gain¬ ing a lawful outlet for sexual desire, thereby thwarting the devil; (3) relaxation of the heart through intimacy with a woman; (4) relief from domestic chores; (5) an opportunity to struggle against the nafs when making an honourable living for one’s family, and tolerating the difficulties of mar¬ ried life.

Word-by-word

ARABIC	ROOT	TRANSLIT	ENGLISH	HAUSA	The Clear Quran Dictionary	Pg	Uses
زُيِّنَ	z-y-n ز ي ن	zuyyina	[It is] beautified, has been made appealing to people.	An ƙawata		99	46
لِلنَّاسِ	ن و س	lilnnasi	for mankind
حُبُّ	ح ب ب	hubbu	(is) love
الشَّهَوَاتِ	ش ه و	al-shahawati	(of) the (things they) desire
مِنَ	م ن	mina	of
النِّسَاءِ	ن س و	al-nisai	[the] women
وَالْبَنِينَ	ب ن ي	wal-banina	and [the] sons
وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ	ق ن ط ر	wal-qanatiri	and [the] heaps
الْمُقَنطَرَةِ	ق ن ط ر	al-muqantarati	[the] stored up
مِنَ	م ن	mina	of
الذَّهَبِ	ذ ه ب	al-dhahabi	[the] gold
وَالْفِضَّةِ	ف ض ض	wal-fidati	and [the] silver
وَالْخَيْلِ	خ ي ل	wal-khayli	and [the] horses
الْمُسَوَّمَةِ	س و م	al-musawamati	[the] branded
وَالْأَنْعَامِ	ن ع م	wal-an'ami	and [the] cattle
وَالْحَرْثِ	ح ر ث	wal-harthi	and [the] tilled land
ذَلِكَ	ذ ل ك	dhalika	That
مَتَاعُ	م ت ع	mata'u	(is) provision
الْحَيَاةِ	ح ي ي	al-hayati	(of) life
الدُّنْيَا	د ن و	al-dun'ya	(of) the world
وَاللَّهُ	أ ل ه	wal-lahu	but Allah
عِندَهُ	ع ن د	indahu	with Him
حُسْنُ	ح س ن	hus'nu	(is an) excellent
الْمَآبِ	أ و ب	al-maabi	[the] abode to return

IslamAwakened.com Qur'an Tafsir Collection for al-Imran 3:14

Muhammad Asad
- ALLURING unto man is the enjoyment of worldly desires through women, and children, and heaped-up treasures of gold and silver, and horses of high mark, and cattle, and lands. All this may be enjoyed in the life of this world - but the most beauteous of all goals is with God
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
- The enjoyment of ˹worldly˺ desires—women, children, treasures of gold and silver, fine horses, cattle, and fertile land—has been made appealing to people. These are the pleasures of this worldly life, but with Allah is the finest destination.
Safi Kaskas
- The love of worldly pleasures is alluring to people: women, children, vast hoards of gold and silver, branded horses, cattle, and farmland. These are matters of this world. God has the best of destinations.
Arabic
- زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآب
Transliteration
- Zuyyina lilnnasi hubbu alshshahawati mina alnnisa-i waalbaneena waalqanateeri almuqantarati mina alththahabi waalfiddati waalkhayli almusawwamati waal-anAAami waalharthi thalika mataAAu alhayati alddunya waAllahu AAindahu husnu almaabi
Transliteration-2
- zuyyina lilnnāsi ḥubbu l-shahawāti mina l-nisāi wal-banīna wal-qanāṭīri l-muqanṭarati mina l-dhahabi wal-fiḍati wal-khayli l-musawamati wal-anʿāmi wal-ḥarthi dhālika matāʿu l-ḥayati l-dun'yā wal-lahu ʿindahu ḥus'nu l-maāb
Word for Word Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
- Beautified for mankind (is) love (of) the (things they) desire of [the] women and [the] sons and [the] heaps [the] stored up of [the] gold and [the] silver, and [the] horses [the] branded, and [the] cattle and [the] tilled land. That (is) provision (of) life (of) the world but Allah - with Him (is an) excellent [the] abode to return.
Muhammad Asad
- ALLURING unto man is the enjoyment of worldly desires through women, and children, and heaped-up treasures of gold and silver, and horses of high mark, and cattle, and lands. All this may be enjoyed in the life of this world - but the most beauteous of all goals is with God
M. M. Pickthall
- Beautified for mankind is love of the joys (that come) from women and offspring; and stored-up heaps of gold and silver, and horses branded (with their mark), and cattle and land. That is comfort of the life of the world. Allah! With Him is a more excellent abode
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)
- Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: Women and sons; Heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (To return to)
Shakir
- The love of desires, of women and sons and hoarded treasures of gold and silver and well bred horses and cattle and tilth, is made to seem fair to men; this is the provision of the life of this world; and Allah is He with Whom is the good goal (of life)
Wahiduddin Khan
- The satisfaction of worldly desires through women, and children, and heaped-up treasures of gold and silver, and pedigreed horses, and cattle and lands is attractive to people. All this is the provision of the worldly life; but the most excellent abode is with God
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar
- Made to appear pleasing to humanity was the cherishing of lust: From women and children and that which is heaped up heaps of gold and silver and horses, ones that are distinguished, and flocks and cultivation, that is the enjoyment of this present life, while God, with Him is the goodness of the Destination.
T.B.Irving
- The love of passions [that come] from women and children has attracted mankind, as well as accumulated gold and silver treasures, pedigreed horses, livestock and crops. That means enjoyment during worldly life, while God holds the finest retreat.
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab
- The enjoyment of ˹worldly˺ desires—women, children, treasures of gold and silver, fine horses, cattle, and fertile land—has been made appealing to people. These are the pleasures of this worldly life, but with Allah is the finest destination.
Safi Kaskas
- The love of worldly pleasures is alluring to people: women, children, vast hoards of gold and silver, branded horses, cattle, and farmland. These are matters of this world. God has the best of destinations.
Abdul Hye
- Beautified is for men with love of things they desire from women, children, store up heaps of gold and silver, branded (beautiful) horses and cattle, and land. These are the pleasure of the life of this world; but Allah has the excellent return (Paradise) with Him
The Study Quran
- Made to seem fair unto mankind is the love of passions, among them women, children, hoarded heaps of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle, and tillage. Those are the enjoyment of the life of this world. And God, with Him is the beautiful return
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)
- It has been adorned for people to love the desire of the most modern things, and buildings, and ornaments made from gold and silver, and trained horses, and the livestock, and fields. These are the enjoyment of the world, and with God are the best goods
Abdel Haleem
- The love of desirable things is made alluring for men- women, children, gold and silver treasures piled up high, horses with fine markings, livestock, and farmland- these may be the joys of this life, but God has the best place to return to
Abdul Majid Daryabadi
- Fair-seeming is made unto men the love of pleasurable things from women and children and talents heaped-up of gold and silver and horses branded up and cattle and tilth. All that is the enjoyment of the life of the World, and Allah! with Him is the best resort
Ahmed Ali
- Enamoured are the people of the lust of (earthly) pleasures, of women and of children and hoarded heaps of gold and silver, well-bred horses, and tilled land and cattle, all (vain) goods and chattels of the life of this world, while the best of abodes is with God
Aisha Bewley
- To mankind the love of worldly appetites is painted in glowing colours: women and children, and heaped-up mounds of gold and silver, and horses with fine markings, and livestock and fertile farmland. All that is merely the enjoyment of the life of this wotld. The best homecoming is in the presence of Allah.
Ali Ünal
- Made innately appealing to men are passionate love for women, children, (hoarded) treasures of gold and silver, branded horses, cattle, and plantations. Such are enjoyments of the present, worldly life; yet with God is the best of the goals to pursue
Ali Quli Qara'i
- To mankind has been made to seem decorous the love of [worldly] desires, including women and children, accumulated piles of gold and silver, horses of mark, livestock, and farms. Those are the wares of the life of this world; but Allah—with Him is a good destination
Hamid S. Aziz
- Beautiful unto men is the life of lust for women, and children, and heaps of hoarded gold and silver, and of horses well bred, and cattle, and well tilled land; these are the comforts for the life of this world; but Allah, with Him is the more excellent
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali
- Adorned for mankind is the love of lusts, for women and seeds, (Or: sons) and heaped-up, heaps (Literally: "arched" hoarded cantars) of gold and silver, and horses of mark, and cattle and tillage. That is the enjoyment (Literally: the belongings) of the present life; (Literally: the lowly life, i.e., the life of this world) and Allah has in His Providence the fairest resorting
Muhammad Sarwar
- Worldly desires, wives, children, accumulated treasures of gold and silver, horses of noble breed, cattle, and farms are all made to seem attractive to men. All these are the bounties of the worldly life but in the life to come God has the best place for people to dwell
Muhammad Taqi Usmani
- It has been made attractive for people to love the desired things; that is, women, children, hoarded heaps of gold and silver, branded horses, cattle and tillage. That is an enjoyment of the worldly life; but with Allah lies the beauty of the final resort
Shabbir Ahmed
- Beautiful for mankind is love of the joys that come from women and children, and heaps of gold and silver, and branded horses, and cattle and well-tilled land. That is comfort of the life of the world. Allah! With Him is a more excellent abode. (Believers in the Divine Laws see this comfort as the means to a higher Goal --- Service --- Self-actualization --- Paradise)
Syed Vickar Ahamed
- Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they desire: Women and children; Piles of gold and silver, heaped up; Horses branded (for their excellence); And (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world’s life; But in the closeness of Allah is the best of the goals (to return to)
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)
- Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return
Farook Malik
- The life of men is tempted by love and desire for women, children, the hoarding of treasures of gold and silver, branded horses, wealth of cattle and plantations. These are the comforts for the transitory life of this world; the everlasting best comfort, however, is with Allah
Dr. Munir Munshey
- The love and passion for (certain) things _ women, offspring, treasures of gold and silver, branded (high bred) horses, cattle, and land _ have been made tempting and alluring for mankind. (However), this is only a brief enjoyment of the life of this world. That which is with Allah, is actually the most excellent abode
Dr. Kamal Omar
- Has been made to appear tempting to mankind, the love for desires like women, and children, and treasures well stored-up of gold and silver, and splendid beautiful branded horses and cattle and farms. These are the possessions of immediate life. And Allah: with Him is the excellence of final abode
Talal A. Itani (new translation)
- Adorned for the people is the love of desires, such as women, and children, and piles upon piles of gold and silver, and branded horses, and livestock, and fields. These are the conveniences of the worldly life, but with God lies the finest resort
Maududi
- Men are naturally tempted by the lure of women, children, treasures of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle and plantations. These are the enjoyments in the life of this world; but with Allah lies a goodly abode to return to
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad
- Love of the desires such as women and children and loads and loads of gold and silver and branded horses (of excellent breed) and the livestock and the crop was made attractive for the people. These are the enjoyments of this world’s life, while the best place to return is with God.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)
- Beautiful in the eyes of men are the love of things they covet, women and sons, heaped-up hoards of gold and silver, horses, livestock and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of the present life, but nearness to God is an excellent goal
Musharraf Hussain
- People’s love of worldly pleasures has been made attractive to them: women, children, heaps of gold and silver, well-bred horses, animals and farmland, such are delights of this worldly life, but Allah has the best place of return.
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)
- It has been adorned for people to love the desire of women, and sons, and ornaments made from gold and silver, and trained horses, and livestock, and fields. These are the enjoyment of the world, and with God is the best abode
Mohammad Shafi
- Attractive for men are the love and desire for women, children, hoarded treasures of gold and silver, branded horses, cattle and plantations. These are possessions of the life of this world. And with Allah is the best resort
Bijan Moeinian
- The worldly pleasures (such as love for women, children, gold and silver, nice horses, cattle and crops, etc.), that preoccupy people, are as short in nature as this life. The ever-lasting (and the best) place to live is with God (in Hereafter)
Faridul Haque
- Beautified is for mankind the love of these desires - women, and sons, and heaps of gold and piled up silver, and branded horses, and cattle and fields; this is the wealth of the life of this world; and it is Allah, with Whom is the excellent abode
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
- Decorated for people are the desires of women, offspring, and of heaped up piles of gold and silver, of pedigree horses, cattle, and sown fields. These are the enjoyments of the worldly life, but with Allah is the best return
Maulana Muhammad Ali
- Fair-seeming to men is made the love of desires, of women and sons and hoarded treasures of gold and silver and well-bred horses and cattle and tilth. This is the provision of the life of this world. And Allah -- with Him is the good goal (of life)
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira
- (It) was decorated/beautified to the people the lusts'/desires'/cravings' love/like from the women, and the sons and daughters , and the vaulted tons from the gold and the silver, and the identified/distinguished (from) the horses , and the camels/livestock , and the agricultural land/plants that (is) the present life's/worldly life's enjoyment and God, at Him good/beautiful (is) the return
Sher Ali
- Fair-seeming to men is made the love of desired things -women and children, and stored up heaps of gold and silver, and horses of mark and cattle and crops. That is the provision of the present life; but it is ALLAH with Whom is an excellent home
Rashad Khalifa
- Adorned for the people are the worldly pleasures, such as the women, having children, piles upon piles of gold and silver, trained horses, livestock, and crops. These are the materials of this world. A far better abode is reserved at GOD.
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
- Adorned for men is the love of these lusts, women and children and the stored up heaps of gold and silver and branded horses and cattle and crops. This is the capital of living world; and it is Allah with Whom there is an excellent destination.
Amatul Rahman Omar
- It has been made fairseeming to the people the love of the desired things comprising women, sons, stored up heaps of gold and silver, well-bred horses, cattle and tilth. That is the provision of the present life. Whereas with Allah is the fairest goal (of life)
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
- (Excessively) attractive has been made, for the people, the love of lusts (that) include women, children, and hoarded treasures of gold and silver, and branded horses and cattle and crops. (All) this is the provision of the worldly life and with Allah is the best abode
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali
- Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present worlds life; but Allah has the excellent return (Paradise with flowing rivers, etc.) with Him
Arthur John Arberry
- Decked out fair to men is the love of lusts -- women, children, heaped-up heaps of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle and tillage. That is the enjoyment of the present life; but God -- with Him is the fairest resort
Edward Henry Palmer
- Seemly unto men is a life of lusts, of women, and children, and hoarded talents of gold and silver, and of horses well-bred, and cattle, and tilth;- that is the provision for the life of this world; but God, with Him is the best resort
George Sale
- The love and eager desire of wives, and children, and sums heaped up of gold and silver, and excellent horses, and cattle, and land, is prepared for men: This is the provision of the present life; but unto God shall be the most excellent return
John Medows Rodwell
- Fair-seeming to men is the love of pleasures from women and children, and the treasured treasures of gold and silver, and horses of mark, and flocks, and cornfields! Such the enjoyment of this world's life. But God! goodly the home with Him
N J Dawood (2014)
- Men are tempted by the lure of women and offspring, of hoarded treasures of gold and silver, of splendid horses, cattle, and plantations. These are the enjoyments of this life, but far better is the return to God
Linda “iLHam” Barto
- Men see as fair the love of things they covet –women and sons, big stashes of gold and silver, branded horses and cattle, and cultivated land. Such are the possession of this world’s life, but with Allah is the best of goals.
Sayyid Qutb
- Alluring to man is the enjoyment of worldly desires through women and offspring, heaped-up treasures of gold and silver, horses of high mark, cattle and plantations. These are the comforts of this life. With God is the best of all goals.
Ahmed Hulusi
- Beautified for the people is the desire to indulge in the pleasures of women and children, heaped up sums of gold and silver, noble horses and cattle. However these are but transitory pleasures of the world. But Allah... The most beauteous goal (to attain) is with Him.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli
- The love of desires (that come) from women, and of offsring, and heaped-up hoards of gold and silver and well-bred branded horses and cattle and tilth, is made to seem fair to mankind. This is the provision of the life of this world, while Allah is He with Whom is the good resort
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur'an al-Karim
- Prompted by instinct and charged to the finger tips with life, people allured by a passion for women, to the accumulation of masses of gold and silver, to owning pedigree horses and an abundance of cattle and fertile land. All in all, these are simply the ephemeral pleasures of life below, whereas in heaven's realm pleasures are eternal and the abode is an atmosphere of rapturous delight
Mir Aneesuddin
- Beautified for mankind is the love of lusty feelings (that arise) due to women, and sons and treasures hoarded with gold and silver and horses of mark (means of conveyance) and cattle and tilth, that is the provision of the life of this world, while the best home is with Allah.
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)
- Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: Women and sons; Heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life ; but in nearness to God is the best of the goals (To return to)

Commentaries for 3.14

Al Imran (The family of Imran) - آل عمران

3.14 Abbas - Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs: Allah then mentions the bounties of the life of this world that He has made attractive for the unbelievers, saying: (Beautified for mankind is) what people's hearts find desirable is (love of the joys (that come) from women) meaning slave women and wives (and offspring) slaves and children, (and stored up heaps) amassed wealth (of gold and silver) it is also said that this means: minted or engraved gold and silver, (and horses branded (with their mark)) beautiful branded horses and grazing in pastures, (and cattle) i.e. sheep, cows and camels (and land) cultivation and cultivated lands. (That) which is mentioned above (is comfort of the life of the world) is of benefit to people in the life of this world and then it vanishes; it is also said that this means: the joys of this world last only for as long as the stuff of any home, a bowl, a plate and the like. (Allah! With Him is a more excellent abode) in the Hereafter, i.e. Paradise, to whoever shun such joys.

3.14 Asrar - Kashf Al-Asrar: Adorned for people is love of appetites, like women, children, heaped-up heaps of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle, and tillage. That is the enjoyment of the life of this world.; The paragon of the world and master of the children of Adam, MuṣṬafā, reported that when the Eternal Enactor created paradise, He said to Gabriel, “'O Gabriel! Go look at it.' Go gaze on this paradise and see once what I have made and created for My servants and friends.” Gabriel went and saw those adorned paradises with their infinite joy and bliss, that place of revelry made and prepared in the neighborhood of God's Presence for the exalted ones of the road and God's friends.; When Gabriel came back he said, “Lord God, 'By Thy exaltedness, no one will hear of it and not enter into it!' By the exaltedness of Your Lordhood, no one will hear the attributes of this paradise without aiming for it and becoming obedient so that he may enter it.”; Then the Lord of the Worlds surrounded paradise with all the hardship and suffering of unworthy things and unreached desires, and He made its road a bridge of trial so that everyone who aims for the Patron must first pass over that bridge of trial.; Shaykh al-Islām Anṣārī said, “How should I have known that suffering is the mother of happiness and that beneath one disappointment lie a thousand treasures? How should I have known which gate this is or what is the answer to the story of friendship? How should I have known that companionship with You is the greatest Resurrection and that the exaltation of union with You lies in the abasement of bewilderment?”; O spirit of the world! The Kaabah is a sweet place, the nest of God's friends and the lodging place of the sincerely truthful, but there is a man-eating desert before it, mile after mile and way station after way station. Who in the end will have the seeking to pass over all those miles and way stations until he reaches the magnificent Kaabah?; A world is wandering in the desert of Your love-; who will be given access to the Kaabah of Your acceptance? [DS 210]; After He made the road of paradise that of unreached desires and disappointment, the command came, “O Gabriel: Look again.; What do you see?” Gabriel saw that road full of danger, those mileposts of struggle, those way stations of discipline that He placed before the travelers to para-; dise. The Exalted Qur'an reports that if you do not pass by those mileposts of struggle, you will not gain access to His Presence: “Those who struggle in Us, We will guide them on Our paths” [29:69]. When Gabriel saw that, he said, “Lord God! I do not fancy that any one of them will enter paradise.”; MuṣṬafā said that the Lord of the Worlds then created hell with the fetters and chains, the tree of Zaqqūm, and the boiling water. He commanded Gabriel, “O Gabriel, go once into this prison to see the effect of My wrath and to know the attribute of My punishment.”; He said, “Lord God, 'By Thy exaltedness, no one will hear of it and then enter into it!' By Your exaltedness, O Lord, no one will hear the attributes of this hell and then do deeds through which he would enter hell.” Then the Lord of the Worlds surrounded hell with all the appetites of this world that are enumerated in this verse: women, children, heaped-up heaps of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle, and tillage. He set up its road as the desires and caprice of the soul. Thus everyone who follows in the tracks of his own soul's desire and caprice will in the end head for hell. When Gabriel saw that he said, “Lord God, I fear that none of them will remain without entering hell.”; Then MuṣṬafā reported about the road to both houses. He said, “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things and the Fire is surrounded by appetites.” Those who walk in the unwanted will step into paradise, and few they will be! Those who walk in appetite will step into hell, and how many they will be! The road of paradise has trials and ups and downs, and the road of hell is easy and does not weigh on souls. “Surely the deeds of the Garden are rough ground on a hill, and surely the deeds of the Fire are soft ground in a valley.”

3.14 Jalal - Al-Jalalayn: Beautified for mankind is love of lusts, that which the self lusts after and calls for, beautified by Satan, or by God as a test — of women, children, stored-up heaps of gold and silver, horses of mark, fine [horses], cattle, namely, camels, cows and sheep, and tillage, the cultivation of land. That, which is mentioned, is the comfort of the life of this world, enjoyed while it lasts, but then perishes; but God — with Him is the more excellent abode, place of return, which is Paradise, and for this reason one should desire none other than this [abode].

3.14 Kashani - Kashani: Beautified for mankind is love of lusts, because man is composite of the higher world and the lower one, and from the time of his configuration and his birth, his primordial nature is veiled and the fire of his instinct subsides, while the light of his insight is extinguished by the veils of nature and the corporeal coverings and the bitter water of sensual pleasures as well as the tempestuous winds of animal lusts so that he becomes abandoned by the Truth in the abodes of estrangement and the habitations of darkness, carried along through trials of various kinds of toils and troubles, when suddenly he finds a shimmering light of discernment and a flash of lightning from the world of the intellect and a summoner [all of which are] calling him away from caprice and Satan and so he falls [this summoner] and chances upon an exalted waystation and an elegant garden in which there is all that the souls can desire and the eyes can delight in. He takes up his abode therein, grateful for his effort and satisfied with his [new] dwelling, saying:; 'When the morning comes the people praise their night journeying, while the summoner has prepared for them a hospitable reception'.; Such is the love of lusts, that is [the love of] the mentioned desired things and the way that these are made beautiful for him, which is an enjoyment given to him in accordance with how much he has of the lower world and of perfection for his life [in this world] by which he has been veiled from the enjoyment of the life of the Hereafter and its perfection in accordance with how much he has of the higher world, while he is inattentive to the fact that this [latter] is more splendid and more pleasurable, purer for that matter and more abiding, which is the meaning of His words: but God - with Him is the more excellent abode. If the divinely-granted success and the alerting of the inner secret should reach him, in conjunction with the prophetic apprising, as He says:

3.14-15 Kathir - Ibn Al Kathir: The True Value of This Earthly Life; Allah mentions the delights that He put in this life for people, such as women and children, and He started with women, because the test with them is more tempting. For instance, the Sahih recorded that the Messenger said,; «مَا تَرَكْتُ بَعْدِي فِتْنَةً أَضَرَّ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ مِنَ النِّسَاء»; (I did not leave behind me a test more tempting to men than women.); When one enjoys women for the purpose of having children and preserving his chastity, then he is encouraged to do so. There are many Hadiths that encourage getting married, such as,; «وَإِنَّ خَيْرَ هذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ مَنْ كَانَ أَكْثَرَهَا نِسَاء»; (Verily, the best members of this Ummah are those who have the most wives) He also said,; «الدُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ، وَخَيْرُ مَتَاعِهَا الْمَرْأَةُ الصَّالِحَة»; (This life is a delight, and the best of its delight is a righteous wife); The Prophet said in another Hadith,; «حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ النِّسَاءُ وَالطِّيبُ، وَجُعِلَتْ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاة»; (I was made to like women and perfume, and the comfort of my eye is the prayer.); `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "Nothing was more beloved to the Messenger of Allah than women, except horses,'' and in another narration, "...than horses except women.''; The desire to have children is sometimes for the purpose of pride and boasting, and as such, is a temptation. When the purpose for having children is to reproduce and increase the Ummah of Muhammad with those who worship Allah alone without partners, then it is encouraged and praised. A Hadith states,; «تَزَوَّجُوا الْوَدُودَ الْوَلُودَ، فَإِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمُ الْأُمَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَة»; (Marry the Wadud (kind) and Walud (fertile) woman, for I will compare your numbers to the rest of the nations on the Day of Resurrection.); The desire of wealth sometimes results out of arrogance, and the desire to dominate the weak and control the poor, and this conduct is prohibited. Sometimes, the want for more money is for the purpose of spending it on acts of worship, being kind to the family, the relatives, and spending on various acts of righteousness and obedience; this behavior is praised and encouraged in the religion.; Scholars of Tafsir have conflicting opinions about the amount of the Qintar, all of which indicate that the Qintar is a large amount of money, as Ad-Dahhak and other scholars said. Abu Hurayrah said "The Qintar is twelve thousand Uwqiyah, each Uwqiyah is better than what is between the heavens and earth.'' This was recorded by Ibn Jarir .; The desire to have horses can be one of three types. Sometimes, owners of horses collect them to be used in the cause of Allah, and when warranted, they use their horses in battle. This type of owner shall be rewarded for this good action. Another type collects horses to boast, and out of enmity to the people of Islam, and this type earns a burden for his behavior. Another type collects horses to fulfill their needs and to collect their offspring, and they do not forget Allah's right due on their horses. This is why in this case, these horses provide a shield of sufficiency for their owner, as evident by a Hadith that we will mention, Allah willing, when we explain Allah's statement,; وَأَعِدُّواْ لَهُمْ مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ; (And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war.) 8:60.; As for the Musawwamah horses, Ibn `Abbas said that they are the branded, beautiful horses. This is the same explanation of Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Abdur-Rahman bin `Abdullah bin Abza, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Abu Sinan and others. Makhul said the Musawwamah refers to the horse with a white spotted faced, and the horse with white feet. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah said,; «لَيْسَ مِنْ فَرَسٍ عَرَبِيَ إِلَّا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُ مَعَ كُلِّ فَجْرٍ يَدْعُو بِدَعْوَتَيْنِ يَقُولُ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ خَوَّلْتَنِي مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ، فَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَحَبِّ مَالِهِ وَأَهْلِهِ إِلَيْهِ أَوْ أَحَبَّ أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ إِلَيْه»; (Every Arabian horse is allowed to have two supplications every dawn, and the horse supplicates, `O Allah! You made me subservient to the son of Adam. Therefore, make me among the dearest of his wealth and household to him, or,...make me the dearest of his household and wealth to him.); Allah's statement,; وَالاٌّنْعَـمُ; (Cattle) means, camels, cows and sheep.; وَالْحَرْثِ; (And fertile land) meaning, the land that is used to farm and grow plants.; Allah then said,; ذَلِكَ مَتَـعُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا; (This is the pleasure of the present world's life) meaning, these are the delights of this life and its short lived joys,; وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَأَبِ; (But Allah has the excellent return with Him) meaning, the best destination and reward.; The Reward of the Those Who Have Taqwa is Better Than All Joys of This World; This is why Allah said,; قُلْ أَؤُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرٍ مِّن ذَلِكُمْ; (Say: "Shall I inform you of things far better than those''); This Ayah means, "Say, O Muhammad, to the people, `Should I tell you about what is better than the delights and joys of this life that will soon perish''' Allah informed them of what is better when He said,; لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْاْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَارُ; (For those who have Taqwa there are Gardens (Paradise) with their Lord, underneath which rivers flow) meaning, rivers run throughout it. These rivers carry various types of drinks: honey, milk, wine and water such that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no heart has ever imagined,; خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ; (Therein (is their) eternal (home)) meaning, they shall remain in it forever and ever and will not want to be removed from it.; وَأَزْوَجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ; (And Azwajun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives)) meaning, from filth, dirt, harm, menstruation, post birth bleeding, and other things that affect women in this world.; وَرِضْوَنٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ; (And Allah will be pleased with them) meaning, Allah's pleasure will descend on them and He shall never be angry with them after that. This is why Allah said in in Surah Bara`ah,; وَرِضْوَنٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ; (But the pleasure of Allah is greater) 9:72, meaning, greater than the eternal delight that He has granted them. Allah then said,; وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ; (And Allah is All-Seer of the (His) servants) and, He gives each provisions according to what they deserve.

3.14-17 Maududi - Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an: Please see E.N. 27, Al-Baqarah.; That is, "Allah dces not shower His favours erroneously nor whimsically nor dces He make cursory and superficial decisions. He is fully aware of the actions, deeds and intentions of His servants, and evaluates them correctly and knows full well who should deserve His favour and who should incur His displeasure."; It means, "They stand steadfast for the sake of truth, are not daunted by losses or hardships, are not disheartened by failures, and are not turned aside from the right path by temptations. They stick to the Truth even when there appears to be no chance of success." (Please see E.N. 60, Al-Baqarah also.)

3.14 Qushairi - Al-Qushairi: Beautified for mankind is love of lusts-of women children stored-up heaps of gold and silver horses of high mark cattle and tillage. That is the comfort of the life of this world; but God-with Him is the more excellent abode. He mentions a few examples of lusts without distinguishing between them; included in the category is whatever veils you from witnessing shuhūd. The most difficult of obstacles on this path is hidden lust. According to them seeking pleasure by performing acts of obedience is counted in the category of hidden lust. Reliance on what comes to you from the various kinds of drawing near is among the problematic places of separation [on the path]. It is like the circumstance of someone confiding in you and flattering you. He describes and praises you with every pleasantry but beneath it there is a hidden deception. Felicity comes to you in the unveiling He grants to you through the witnessing shuhūd of His majesty and beauty. It does not come from His affirmation of [your] subtle states or what He chooses to grant [to you] in favors or drawing near..