O Human, You Are Laboring Toward Your Lord With Exertion — Life Is a Journey to Meeting
tadabbur
Level: basic
akhirah
td-063
إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدۡحٗا فَمُلَٰقِيهِ
— الانشقاق 6
Verse: "O human, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with exertion — and will meet Him." (84:6)
"Laboring" (kadih): From kadh — strenuous striving. Life is not rest but continuous labor. Even temporary rest is preparation for more striving.
"And will meet Him": The meeting is inevitable — every step approaches the encounter with Allah. "Will meet Him" not "will receive recompense" — the meeting itself is the great news, recompense is what follows.
Lesson: All your striving in this world — of all kinds — is moving toward one meeting. So choose how you arrive at that meeting.
Source: Ibn Kathir (8/365); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (19/271)
Question: What is the deep meaning of "will meet Him" instead of "will receive his recompense"?
Answer: The meeting with Allah is the great news — recompense comes after the meeting. The meeting itself is the journey's ultimate destination, making this life a path to encounter, not merely a test.