At-Takathur 102:1
The Rivalry in world increase · Meccan · Juz 30 · Page 600
The Race for More
أَلۡهَىٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ ١
Rivalry in worldly increase distracteth you.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
Competition in increase distracts you, until you visit the graves.
Insight
Elmalılı explains “alhakum” as keeping a person busy with something empty and away from what matters, and “takathur” as the pride and race of having more. One report says some, having counted the living, went on to count the dead in the graves.
Reflect
Honestly ask what you are racing to “increase” today.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›