Basic
Al-Layl
Surah: Al-Layl (11)
His Wealth Will Not Avail Him When He Falls — Wealth Cannot Save at the Critical Moment
وَمَا يُغۡنِي عَنۡهُ مَالُهُۥٓ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰ
— الليل الآية 11
Verse: "And his wealth will not avail him when he falls"
Reflection:
"Taredda" means to fall into destruction or to fall into an abyss — both meanings converge: when a person falls into the grave, and when he is cast into the Fire, his wealth does not precede him.
The great paradox: The miser holds onto wealth for fear of poverty — then leaves it all at death. The generous spends for fear of Allah — then finds at death what he sent ahead.
The Prophet said: "The son of Adam says: my wealth, my wealth — but do you have of your wealth except what you ate and consumed, wore and wore out, or gave in charity and it went forward?" [Muslim]
"Indeed upon Us is guidance": After this description of the miser comes the message of guidance — Allah has not left man to wander blindly but has made the path clear. Man chooses the path of guidance or turns away.
Lesson: Whoever dies with wealth he did not spend in obedience to Allah has taken nothing real from it — for what goes with you is what you sent ahead, not what you left behind.
Reflection:
"Taredda" means to fall into destruction or to fall into an abyss — both meanings converge: when a person falls into the grave, and when he is cast into the Fire, his wealth does not precede him.
The great paradox: The miser holds onto wealth for fear of poverty — then leaves it all at death. The generous spends for fear of Allah — then finds at death what he sent ahead.
The Prophet said: "The son of Adam says: my wealth, my wealth — but do you have of your wealth except what you ate and consumed, wore and wore out, or gave in charity and it went forward?" [Muslim]
"Indeed upon Us is guidance": After this description of the miser comes the message of guidance — Allah has not left man to wander blindly but has made the path clear. Man chooses the path of guidance or turns away.
Lesson: Whoever dies with wealth he did not spend in obedience to Allah has taken nothing real from it — for what goes with you is what you sent ahead, not what you left behind.
Source: Muslim (2958); Ibn Kathir (8/413)
Test Yourself
According to the hadith, what is the only wealth that benefits its owner?
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