Tafseer of The Cattle · Al-An'aam · 6:29
And they say, "There is none but our worldly life, and we will not be resurrected."
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of His word: وَقَالُوا إِنْ هِيَ إِلا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَبْعُوثِينَ (29) ("And they said: 'There is nothing but our worldly life, and we shall not be raised up'" (6:29)).
Abū Jaʿfar said: This is a report from Allah — exalted be His mention — concerning these polytheists (mushrikīn), who set up idols and graven images as equals to Him, those about whom He gave a report at the beginning of this surah.
The Exalted — exalted be His mention — says: "And they said: there is nothing but our worldly life." He reports concerning them that they deny that Allah brings His creatures back to life after He has caused them to die, and they say: "There is no life after death, and no raising up nor resurrection after perishing." Through this denial of theirs, and through their negation of Allah's reward and punishment in the Hereafter, they do not care about the sin and disobedience that they commit and to which they give themselves over, because they hope for no reward for believing in Allah, for deeming His Messenger truthful, and for good deeds after death, and because they fear no punishment for their unbelief (kufr) in Allah and His Messenger and for the evil deeds that they perform.
* * *
Ibn Zayd used to say: This is a report from Allah — exalted be His mention — concerning these unbelievers (kuffār) who have been set before the Fire (al-nār): that if they were brought back to the worldly life, they would say: "There is nothing but our worldly life, and we shall not be raised up."
13184 — Yūnus related to us, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His word: وَلَوْ رُدُّوا لَعَادُوا لِمَا نُهُوا عَنْهُ ("And even if they were brought back, they would return to that which was forbidden to them" (6:28)), and they say when they are brought back: "There is nothing but our worldly life, and we shall not be raised up."