Surah Luqman 31:24

(while he is a Muhsin) i.e., doing what his Lord has commanded and abstaining from what He has forbidden,

(then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold.) means, he has received a firm promise from Allah that He will not punish him.

(And to Allah return all matters for decision. And whoever disbelieves, let not his disbelief grieve you.) means, `do not grieve over them, O Muhammad, because they disbelieve in Allah and in the Message you have brought, for their return will be to Allah and He will tell them what they used to do,' i.e., He will punish them for it.

(Verily, Allah is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts.) and nothing whatsoever is hidden from Him. Then Allah says:

(We let them enjoy for a little while,) means, in this world,

(then in the end We shall oblige them) means, `We shall cause them,'

(to (enter) a great torment.) means, a torment that is terrifying and difficult to bear. This is like the Ayah,

("Verily, those who invent a lie against Allah, will never be successful." 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)

Ayat ini menerangkan kepada orang-orang kafir bahwa mereka hanya diberi kesenangan hidup yang sebentar dan bersifat sementara. Selama waktu yang sedikit itu, mereka dapat mempergunakan nikmat-nikmat yang disediakan Allah dan mengecap kesenangan hidup. Akan tetapi, kesenangan sementara itu tidak ada artinya sama sekali jika dibandingkan dengan kesenangan ukhrawi. Kesenangan sementara itu akan hilang, seakan-akan tidak pernah mereka alami, di saat mereka menemui azab yang pedih di alam neraka nanti. Hal ini dikuatkan oleh firman Allah yang lain:

Katakanlah, "Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang mengada-adakan kebohongan terhadap Allah tidak akan beruntung." (Bagi mereka) kesenangan (sesaat) ketika di dunia, selanjutnya kepada Kamilah mereka kembali, kemudian Kami rasakan kepada mereka azab yang berat, karena kekafiran mereka. (Yunus/10: 69-70)