Eat and Enjoy for a Little — This World Is Brief No Matter How Long
tadabbur
Level: basic
baqarah
td-186
مَتَٰعٌ قَلِيلٌ ثُمَّ مَأۡوَىٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ
— آل عمران 197
Verse: "Say: Enjoy for a little — then your destination is the Fire." (14:30) and "A brief enjoyment — then their refuge is Hell." (3:197)
"Brief" (qaleel): This entire world is brief no matter how long it lasts — when a person dies and is asked "how long did you live?" they say: a day or part of a day.
Lesson: You're not commanded to abandon this world — but not to forget the Hereafter. "Brief enjoyment" — don't make this world huge in your heart and lose the Hereafter.
Source: Ibn Kathir (2/174); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (4/329)
Question: How does the Quran prove the "briefness" of this world despite a person's long lifespan?
Answer: By comparison with eternity — someone in Paradise or Fire, if asked, would say: "It felt like a day." All of this world compared to eternity has negligible value.