Al-Kahf 28: Be steadfast with those who pray to their Lord during the day and the evening, asking for Allah’s contentedness. Do not turn your eyes to the (worldly bounties) desiring the ornaments of the worldly life. Do not follow the evil desires of those who are ignorant about remembering Us and do not submit to the transgressors.

A. Metin Saruhan · 21 February 2022 · Misinterpreted Verses

The misinterpretation

Persevere with those who pray to their Lord morning and evening, seeking His approval. Do not turn your eyes away from them, desiring the adornment of the worldly life. Do not follow the evil desires of those whose hearts are heedless of our remembrance, and do not submit to anyone whose work is excessive.

The right translation

Be steadfast with those who pray to their Lord during the day and the evening, asking for Allah’s contentedness. Do not turn your eyes to the (worldly bounties) desiring the ornaments of the worldly life. Do not follow the evil desires of those who are ignorant about remembering Us and do not submit to the transgressors.

Explanation

The wrong opening in this verse is this: Do not turn away your eyes from them, seeking the ornaments of this world's life. The truth is: Do not turn your eyes to them, seeking the ornaments of this world's life.

Our Lord does not say such a word to the Prophet (s.a.w.) indirectly to his Ummah in this verse that has been opened wrongly. Look what it says: Do not turn your eyes away from them, desiring the ornaments of this world's life. In other words, do not give up the life of this world and what it offers to people. Take them and do not turn your eyes away from those blessings, this is exactly what they attribute to our Lord. In other words, man will set his eyes on the world and leave our Lord behind. (Surat al-Ankabut 64 and Surat al-Muhammad 36) Surely the life of this world is but play and amusement. If you believe and avoid Allah, He will give you your reward and will not ask you to spend your wealth.

In this case, the correct opening of the verse is as follows: "Do not turn your eyes to them, seeking the ornaments of this world's life."

What is said in the video

In Surah Al-Kahf, verse 28, there is a mistake. 'With those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure, persevere wholeheartedly. Do not turn your eyes away from them, desiring the adornment of worldly life.

Do not follow the base desires of those whose hearts are heedless of remembering Us, and do not bow to one whose whole business is excess,' it says. Now here: 'With those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure, persevere wholeheartedly.' Correct. That is indeed how it should be. 'With those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure, persevere wholeheartedly.' Now: 'Do not turn your eyes to them, desiring the adornment of worldly life.' What does it say? 'Do not turn your eyes away from them, desiring the adornment of worldly life.' Yes. 'Do not turn your eyes away from them.' That is, it says look at them. Whereas: 'Do not turn your eyes to them.' Look, here one word — a thing of two letters: 'from them'.

'To them', 'from them'. Now when it says 'from them', and — and — 'desiring the adornment of worldly life, do not turn your eyes away from them.' That is: you concern yourself with the adornment of worldly life. Don't turn your eyes away from them. Whereas: 'Do not turn your eyes to them, desiring the adornment of worldly life.' Yes. 'Do not follow the base desires of those whose hearts are heedless of remembering Us, and do not bow to one whose whole business is excess,' it says. Good. So here one letter, one word changes the meanings.

'Do not turn your eyes away from the adornment of the world.' 'Turn your eyes away from the adornment of the world.' Look. 'Do not turn away', 'turn away'. Here, one word. And what does it say here? 'Desiring the adornment of worldly life' — desiring the adornment of worldly life, its money, its riches, its beauty and so on — 'do not turn your eyes away from them,' that is, follow them, take them. Whereas here: 'desiring the adornment of worldly life, do not turn your eyes to them,' they say. Do not incline to them. All of them are fleeting. Worldly life is fleeting. The world is a realm of rubbish. Only what we eat and drink here is our sustenance, what we use up and wear out is our sustenance. Then (?), sir, property and possessions are an inheritance for the children. Yes. Everything from the atom to the globe belongs to Allah. Every soul shall taste death. The inheritance of the heavens and the earth will remain to Allah, it says. Yes.