The Majestic Quran

64. At-Taghabun The Day of Winning or Losing The central theme of this Madinan chapter are Islamic beliefs, especially the life Hereafter. The majesty and grandeur of God’s power opens the chapter. It points out the benefits of faith: believers will be successful, whilst disbelievers will be ruined, as is apparent in the fates of past generations. The believers are directed to carry out duties that will lead them to success: being charitable, obedient and ever mindful of God. It also warns how wealth, spouses and children can be a temptation that can lead to breaking Divine laws: “Whoever can save themselves from greed, then those are the successful ones” (16). Yaum At-Thaghabun means ‘the day of winning or losing’; the believers will be winners as they enter paradise; but the disbelievers will be losers, thrown in hell. However, everyone will have a sense of being cheated, some believers will feel loss, because they could have worked harder for the Hereafter. The disbelievers will be utterly devastated as they realise the world had cheated them. The noun ghibn means, “To take something without paying its price.” In other words, to cheat 17 . So, the world and its trappings cheat those who pour themselves into it but get nothing in return in the Hereafter. In the name of God, the Kind, the Caring. H 1 All things in the Heavens and the Earth glorify God. He rules over all things and all praise is for Him. He has control over all things. 2 He is the One Who created you; but some of you chose to be disbelievers, and