Surah Ali 'Imran 3:198

Warning Against Being Deceived by This Life; the Rewards of the Righteous Believers

Allah said, do not look at the disbelievers, who are enjoying various delights and joys. Soon, they will loose all this and be tied to their evil works, for verily, we are only giving them time, which deceives them, when all they have is,

(A brief enjoyment; then their ultimate abode is Hell; and worst indeed is that place for rest.)

This Ayah is similar to several other Ayat, such as,

(None disputes in the Ayat of Allah but those who disbelieve. So, let not their ability of going about here and there through the land deceive you!) 40:4,

(Verily, those who invent a lie against Allah, will never be successful. (A brief) enjoyment in this world! and then unto Us will be their return, then We shall make them taste the severest torment because they used to disbelieve.) 10:69,70,

(We let them enjoy for a little while, then in the end We shall oblige them to (enter) a great torment.) 31:24,

(So, give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while.) 86:17, and,

(Is he whom We have promised an excellent promise (Paradise) which he will find true -- like him whom We have made to enjoy the luxuries of the life of (this) world, then on the Day of Resurrection, he will be among those brought up (to be punished in the Hell-fire)) 28:61.

After Allah mentioned the condition of the disbelievers in this life and their destination to the Fire, He said,

(But, for those who have Taqwa of their Lord, are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise); therein are they to dwell, an entertainment from Allah,) 3:198, for certainly,

(and that which is with Allah is the best for Al-Abrar.)

Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Ad-Darda' used to say, "Death is better for every believer. Death is better for every disbeliever, and those who do not believe me should read Allah's statements,

(and that which is with Allah is the best for Al-Abrar), and,

(And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing of their punishment is good for them. We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness. And for them is a disgraceful torment.) 3:178."

Berbeda dengan kaum kafir yang akan ditempatkan di dalam neraka, maka di akhirat nanti orang-orang yang bertakwa, yaitu orang-orang yang mengamalkan perintah-perintah Allah, meninggalkan segala larangan-Nya, akan ditempatkan di dalam surga, kekal untuk selama-lamanya.

Alangkah bahagianya mereka, karena apa yang di sisi Allah itu adalah yang sebaik-baiknya bagi orang yang berbakti. Jauh lebih baik daripada kesenangan dan kemewahan yang dirasakan orang-orang kafir di dunia, karena sifatnya terbatas, yaitu selama hidup di dunia saja. Rasulullah memberi contoh nyata seperti yang disampaikan Umar bin al-Khattab r.a. berkata:

"Saya berkunjung kepada Rasulullah saw, waktu itu beliau berada dalam sebuah ruangan, tidur di atas tikar yang tidak beralas. Di bawah kepalanya bantal dari kulit kambing yang diisi dengan sabut. Pada kedua kakinya daun penyamak terkumpul. Di alas kepalanya, kulit kambing tergantung. Saya melihat bekas tikar pada dua lambungnya, maka saya menangis. Beliau berkata, "Apa yang menyebabkan engkau menangis?" Saya menjawab, "Wahai Rasulullah, Kisra dan Kaisar selalu di dalam kesenangan, kemewahan dan serba cukup dan Engkau adalah Rasulullah dan dalam keadaan begini?" Rasulullah menjawab, "Apakah Engkau tidak senang, bahwa dunia ini bagi mereka dan akhirat bagi kita" (Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim).