The main theme of Surat Az-Zukhruf (الزّخرُف) is that materialistic distractions, though enticing, are transient and should not divert us from the true path of Allah. The Surah warns us that those who turn away from Allah’s guidance often do so by clinging to their worldly possessions and perceived superiority.

The Surah commences with emphasizing the greatness of the Quran as it praises its clarity, prestige, and wisdom.

حمٓ (١) وَٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ (٢) إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَـٰهُ قُرۡءَٲنًا عَرَبِيًّ۬ا لَّعَلَّڪُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ (٣) وَإِنَّهُ ۥ فِىٓ أُمِّ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ لَدَيۡنَا لَعَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ (٤)

Ha-Mim. (1) By the clear Book (i.e. this Qur’an). (2) Verily, we have made it a Qur’an in Arabic, that you may be able to understand. (3) And verily, it is with us in the mother of the Book, indeed Exalted, full of Wisdom. (43:1-4)

Here, Allah describes the Quran as (لَعَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ) which is translated as “exalted, full of wisdom”.  Consequently, any person who understands it and applies it, would attain the highest status of knowledge and wisdom.

The Surah offers a contrast between the materialistic adornments of this world and the real adornments that exist in Hereafter, which have been promised to those who are committed to this book of Allah.

Verses 33 and 34 presents elements of the adornment of this world.  To illustrate the triviality of this world richness and adornment, the verses imply that if all people had been disbelievers, Allah would have showered them with materialistic pleasures of gold and silver that have no limit.  But, because there will be believers who may be tempted and confused by what all the disbelievers have, Allah did not make this happen.

وَلَوۡلَآ أَن يَكُونَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ لَّجَعَلۡنَا لِمَن يَكۡفُرُ بِٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ لِبُيُوتِہِمۡ سُقُفً۬ا مِّن فِضَّةٍ۬ وَمَعَارِجَ عَلَيۡہَا يَظۡهَرُونَ (٣٣) وَلِبُيُوتِہِمۡ أَبۡوَٲبً۬ا وَسُرُرًا عَلَيۡہَا يَتَّكِـُٔونَ (٣٤) وَزُخۡرُفً۬ا‌ۚ وَإِن ڪُلُّ ذَٲلِكَ لَمَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۚ وَٱلۡأَخِرَةُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ (٣٥)

“And were it not that all mankind would have become of one community, We would have provided for those who disbelieve in Al-Rahman, silver roofs for their houses, and (silver) stairs whereby they ascend, (33) And also for their houses, doors (of silver), and couches (of silver) on which they could recline, (34) And adornments of gold. Yet all this would have been nothing but an enjoyment of this world. And the Hereafter with your Lord is (only) for the righteous.” (43:33-35).

The Surah also reveals the real adornments that Allah has prepared for the believers in the Hereafter; Allah says:

ٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ أَنتُمۡ وَأَزۡوَٲجُكُمۡ تُحۡبَرُونَ (٧٠) يُطَافُ عَلَيۡہِم بِصِحَافٍ۬ مِّن ذَهَبٍ۬ وَأَكۡوَابٍ۬‌ۖ وَفِيهَا مَا تَشۡتَهِيهِ ٱلۡأَنفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ ٱلۡأَعۡيُنُ‌ۖ وَأَنتُمۡ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ (٧١) وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡجَنَّةُ ٱلَّتِىٓ أُورِثۡتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ (٧٢)

“Enter Paradise, you and your spouses, in happiness. (70) Trays and cups of gold will be passed round them, (there will be) therein all what the souls could desire, and all what the eyes could delight in, and you will abide therein forever. (71) This is the Paradise which you have been made to inherit because of what you used to do. (43:70-72)

 

It is as if the Surah is saying to us do not be dazzled by this life’s ornaments and deceived by its enjoyment because the enjoyment prepared for you in the Hereafter is everlasting and the magnitude and intensity of the hereafter pleasures are beyond your imagination.

The Surah goes on to criticize those who rather than evaluating the Quran based on its own merit, they reject it based on materialistic considerations such as the status and wealth of the deliverer:

وَقَالُواْ لَوۡلَا نُزِّلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡقَرۡيَتَيۡنِ عَظِيمٍ ( ٣١)

And they say: “Why is not this Quran sent down to a great man of the two cities (Makkah and Taif)?” (43:31)

Allah responds to them by saying:

أَهُمۡ يَقۡسِمُونَ رَحۡمَتَ رَبِّكَ‌ۚ نَحۡنُ قَسَمۡنَا بَيۡنَہُم مَّعِيشَتَہُمۡ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۚ وَرَفَعۡنَا بَعۡضَہُمۡ فَوۡقَ بَعۡضٍ۬ دَرَجَـٰتٍ۬ لِّيَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُہُم بَعۡضً۬ا سُخۡرِيًّ۬ا‌ۗ وَرَحۡمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّمَّا يَجۡمَعُونَ (٣٢)

Is it they who would divide the Mercy of your Lord? It is We Who divides between them their livelihood in this world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others. But the Mercy (Paradise) of your Lord is better than the (wealth of this world) which they accumulate. (43:32)

The Surah gives an example of the Pharaoh of Egypt who used the same excuse of the materialistic measures of wealth and status to justify his rejection of prophet Musa:

وَنَادَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنُ فِى قَوۡمِهِۦ قَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ أَلَيۡسَ لِى مُلۡكُ مِصۡرَ وَهَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِىٓ‌ۖ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَ (٥١)

And Fir’aun (Pharaoh) called his people, (saying:) “O my people! Does not the dominion of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing underneath me. Can’t you see? (43:51)

 أَمۡ أَنَا۟ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ مَهِينٌ۬ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُبِينُ (٥٢) فَلَوۡلَآ أُلۡقِىَ عَلَيۡهِ أَسۡوِرَةٌ۬ مِّن ذَهَبٍ أَوۡ جَآءَ مَعَهُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةُ مُقۡتَرِنِينَ (٥٣)

“Am I not better than this one [Musa], who is despicable and can hardly express himself clearly? (52) “Why then are not golden bracelets bestowed on him, or angels sent along with him?” (43:52-53)

The sad part is that most of the Pharoah’s people were fooled by his argument and followed him in rejecting the message of Allah that prophet Musa was delivering to them:

فَٱسۡتَخَفَّ قَوۡمَهُ ۥ فَأَطَاعُوهُ‌ۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَوۡمً۬ا فَـٰسِقِينَ (٥٤) فَلَمَّآ ءَاسَفُونَا ٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ فَأَغۡرَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ (٥٥)

Thus he (Pharaoh) befooled his people, and they obeyed him. Indeed, they were rebellious people. (54) So, when they angered Us, We punished them, and drowned them all. (43:54-55)

Recognizing that the wealth and power of the disbelievers can be a barrier for many people to accept the true message of Allah when those who are delivering it lack wealth and power. This suggests that it is incumbent upon Muslims to acquire wealth and power to facilitate their ability to deliver Allah’s message.

Another Barrier that the Surah identifies as the cause for rejecting Allah’s message is blindly clinging to the tradition and customs without reflecting on their validity:

 بَلۡ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ۬ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم مُّهۡتَدُونَ (٢٢) وَكَذَٲلِكَ مَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ فِى قَرۡيَةٍ۬ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ۬ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم مُّقۡتَدُونَ (٢٣) ۞

“Rather, they say: “We found our fathers following a certain way and we are guided by following their footsteps.” (22) Similarly, We did not send a warner before you (O Muhammad) to any town but the wealthy ones among them said: “We found our fathers following a certain way, and we are indeed following their footsteps.” (43:22-23)

 And when challenged, they blame Allah for allowing them to follow their false belief and practices:

وَقَالُواْ لَوۡ شَآءَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ مَا عَبَدۡنَـٰهُم‌ۗ مَّا لَهُم بِذَٲلِكَ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ‌ۖ إِنۡ هُمۡ إِلَّا يَخۡرُصُونَ (٢٠) أَمۡ ءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُمۡ ڪِتَـٰبً۬ا مِّن قَبۡلِهِۦ فَهُم بِهِۦ مُسۡتَمۡسِكُونَ (٢١)

And they said: “If it had been the Will of Al-Rahman, we would not have worshipped them (false deities).” They have no knowledge whatsoever of that. They do nothing but lie! (20) Or have We given them any Book before this (the Quran), to which they are holding fast? (43:21)

 The proper response to those people is what Allah told us to say:

قَـٰلَ أَوَلَوۡ جِئۡتُكُم بِأَهۡدَىٰ مِمَّا وَجَدتُّمۡ عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَكُمۡ‌ۖ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرۡسِلۡتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ (٢٤) فَٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ‌ۖ فَٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ (٢٥)

Say: “Even if I bring you better guidance than that on which you have found your fathers?” They said: ” We totally disbelieve in that with which you have been sent with.” (24) So, We punished them. Now look, what was the end of those who rejected (our messengers). (43:24-25)

These Ayat offer a warning to Muslims that they need to examine the customary practices to avoid falling in the trap of justifying their actions based on tradition and cultural practices. Unfortunately, this often happens, and the justification is often: my father or my sheikh used to allow/not allow this.

It is critical that we should stay firm on in the straight path while we are delivering the Quran to others:

فَٱسۡتَمۡسِكۡ بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُوحِىَ إِلَيۡكَ‌ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ (٤٣) وَإِنَّهُ ۥ لَذِكۡرٌ۬ لَّكَ وَلِقَوۡمِكَ‌ۖ وَسَوۡفَ تُسۡـَٔلُونَ (٤٤

So, hold fast to that which is revealed to you. Verily you are on the Straight Path. (43) And indeed, this (the Quran) is a reminder for you and your people and all of you will be questioned (about it). (43:43:44)

If one faces false arguments by those who choose to disbelieve, one should not become angry with them. Rather one should remain kind and tolerant to them, as Allah says:

وَقِيلِهِۦ يَـٰرَبِّ إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ قَوۡمٌ۬ لَّا يُؤۡمِنُونَ (٨٨) فَٱصۡفَحۡ عَنۡہُمۡ وَقُلۡ سَلَـٰمٌ۬‌ۚ فَسَوۡفَ يَعۡلَمُونَ (٨٩)

And his (the prophet) saying: “O my Lord; these are a people who do not believe!” (88) So, forgive them and say: Salam (peace)! Then, soon they will come to know (the result of their attitude). (43:88-89)

While we should not be impressed by the materialistic resources of the disbelievers, we must acknowledge that if Muslims don’t have access to these resources, they will often be used by the disbelievers against them. When Muslims are oppressed and backward while others are wealthy and powerful, it impacts people’s beliefs and affects their commitment to the commands of Allah.  This was recognized by the Prophet (PBUH) in his discussion with Uday ibn Hatim (عدي بن حاتم), the chief of his tribe. Uday said, I came to see the Messenger (PBUH) but was hesitant to accept Islam and he (PBUH) recognized my hesitancy. So, he (PBUH) said to me:

لعلك يا عدي إنما يمنعك من دخول في هذا الدين ما ترى من حاجتهم ، فوالله ليوشكن المال أن يفيض فيهم حتى لا يوجد من يأخده ؛ ولعلك إنما يمنعك من دخول فيه ما ترى من كثرة عدوهم وقلة عددهم ، فوالله ليوشكن أن تسمع بالمرأة تخرج من القادسية على بعيرها ( حتى ) تزور هذا البيت ، لا تخاف ؛

 ولعلك إنما يمنعك من دخول فيه أنك ترى أن الملك والسلطان في غيرهم ، وايم الله ليوشكن أن تسمع بالقصور البيض من أرض بابل قد فتحت عليهم ؛ قال : فأسلمت

O Uday, perhaps what is preventing you from entering this religion is what you see of their poverty. By Allah, soon wealth will overflow among them until there is no one left to take it.    And perhaps what is preventing you from entering it is the large number of their enemies and their small numbers. By Allah, soon you will hear of a woman traveling from Qadisiyyah on her camel to visit this House (the Kaaba), without fear.   And perhaps what is preventing you from entering it is that you see the power and authority in the hands of others. By Allah, soon you will hear of the white palaces of the land of Babylon being opened for them.”

Uday ibn Hatim (عدي بن حاتم) said:  Upon hearing this, I accepted Islam.  Later, he used to say:

مضت اثنتان ، وبقيت الثالثة ، والله لتكونن ، قد رأيت القصور البيض من أرض بابل قد فتحت عليهم ، وقد رأيت المرأة تخرج من القادسية على بعيرها ولا تخاف حتى تحج هذا البيت ، وايم الله لتكونن الثالثة ، ليفيض المال حتى لا يوجد من يأخذه.

“Two have passed, and the third remains, and by Allah, it will surely come to pass. I have seen the white palaces of the land of Babylon opened for them, and I have seen a woman traveling from Qadisiyyah on her camel, fearing nothing until she performs the pilgrimage to this House (the Kaaba). By Allah, the third will surely happen: wealth will overflow until there is no one left to take it.”

Realizing that lacking wealth and power by Muslims are barriers that may prevent people from accepting Islam, it is a religious obligation for Muslims to strive to become the most advanced technologically and financially.   The clear confidence of the Prophet (PBUH) is based on his full convection that Allah is in full control of what happens and will happen on the earth.

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِلَـٰهٌ۬ وَفِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَـٰهٌ۬‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ (٨٤) وَتَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِى لَهُ ۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا وَعِندَهُ ۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ (٨٥)

It is He Who is the only God in the heaven and the only God on the earth. And He is the All-Wise, the All-Knower. (84) And Blessed is He to Whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, and with Whom is the knowledge of the Hour, and to Whom you (all) will be returned. (43:84-85)

Allah gave a severe warning to those who reject Allah’s message based on their arrogance and transgression by saying:

أَفَنَضۡرِبُ عَنكُمُ ٱلذِّڪۡرَ صَفۡحًا أَن ڪُنتُمۡ قَوۡمً۬ا مُّسۡرِفِينَ (٥)

“Shall We withdraw the message, disregarding you because you are a transgressing people?” (43:5)

The verse is basically saying that Allah will erase those people from His consideration and thus will leave them on their transgression without creating for them opportunities to correct themselves.   Such people have no chance of Allah’s mercy on the Day of Judgment.  But those people who fall outside Allah’s mercy are not necessarily those who are rejecting Allah as creator, because Allah talks about those people by saying:

وَلَٮِٕن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ (٩)

“And indeed, if you ask them, “Who has created the heavens and the earth?” They will surely say: “they are created by the All-Mighty, the All-Knower.” (43:9)

 وَلَٮِٕن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَهُمۡ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ‌ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَكُونَ (٨٧)

And if you ask them who created them, they will surely say, God. How then are they turned away? (43:87)

 These Ayat clearly illustrate that just believing that Allah is the creator is not sufficient for salvation, it must be manifested by full obedience to His commands.

Extra: Clarification:

In the beginning of the Surah, Allah states that the Quran is in Um Al-Kitab

إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَـٰهُ قُرۡءَٲنًا عَرَبِيًّ۬ا لَّعَلَّڪُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ (٣) وَإِنَّهُ ۥ فِىٓ أُمِّ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ لَدَيۡنَا لَعَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ (٤)

Verily, we have made it a Qur’an in Arabic, that you may be able to understand. (3) And verily, it is with us in the mother of the Book, indeed Exalted, full of Wisdom. (43:1-4)

The reference that the Quran is in Um Al-Kitab (أم الكتاب) which is translated as the “Mother of the Book”, is generally interpreted to mean Al-Lawh Al-Mahfouz (اللوح المحفوظ) “The Preserved Tablet” in which all the information about the creations is recorded.  The consideration that the mother of the Book/ the Preserved Tablet contains everything is inferred from the following Ayat:

أَلَمۡ تَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعۡلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۗ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ فِى كِتَـٰبٍ‌ۚ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ۬ [الحج:70 ]

“Do you not know that Allah knows that in the heavens and the earth? All is recorded in a Book. Indeed, it is easy for Allah.” (Al-Hajj 22:70)

مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ڪِتَـٰبٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن نَّبۡرَأَهَآ‌ۚ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ۬ [الحديد: 22 ]

“No calamity befalls the earth or yourselves, but t is in a Book before We bring it into being. Indeed, that is easy for Allah.” (Al-Hadid 57:22)

بَلۡ هُوَ قُرۡءَانٌ۬ مَّجِيدٌ۬ (٢١) فِى لَوۡحٍ۬ مَّحۡفُوظِۭ (البُرُوج٢٢ )

“But this is a glorious Quran (21) in a Preserved Tablet (Lawh Mahfouz).” (Al-Burooj 85:22)