What is the meaning of the statement of Allah the Exalted: “And those who disbelieved, their deeds are like a mirage in a low-lying place, which the thirsty man supposes to be water, until when he comes to it, he finds it to be nothing, and he finds Allah before him, so He repays him his reckoning in full”
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh. What is the meaning of the statement of Allah the Exalted: [An-Nur 24:39] regarding the last phrase: ?
The Shaykh : The meaning is that the deeds of these people are like a mirage in a low-lying place. The thirsty man sees the mirage in the low-lying place and thinks it is water. When he thinks it is water, he hastens toward it, thinking that salvation lies in it, so he rushes. But when he arrives, he finds it is a mirage, and at that time he perishes even more.
And the meaning of:[An-Nur 24:39] is: by the arrival of his term. This is what is intended by “before him” (‘indahu). It is not that Allah the Exalted is in the same place, for Allah is established above the Throne, exalted above His creation. But the meaning is: he meaning: his term arrived, so He repaid him his reckoning in full.
But those who disbelieved - their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing but finds Allah before Him, and He will pay him in full his due
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ الظَّمْآنُ مَاءً حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَهُ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْئاً وَوَجَدَ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ فَوَفَّاهُ حِسَابَهُAnd he finds Allah before him, so He repays him his reckoning in full
وَوَجَدَ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ فَوَفَّاهُ حِسَابَهُThe Shaykh : The meaning is that the deeds of these people are like a mirage in a low-lying place. The thirsty man sees the mirage in the low-lying place and thinks it is water. When he thinks it is water, he hastens toward it, thinking that salvation lies in it, so he rushes. But when he arrives, he finds it is a mirage, and at that time he perishes even more.
And the meaning of: