18: 45 [al-Kahf, Mecca 69]

Asad And propound unto them the parable of the life of this world: [it is] like the water which We send down from the skies, and which is absorbed by the plants of the earth: but [in time] they turn into dry stubble which the winds blow freely about.

Yusuf Ali Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: it is like the rain which We send down from the skies: the earth's vegetation absorbs it but soon it becomes dry stubble which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah Who prevails over all things.

Pickthall And coin for them the similitude of the life of the world as water which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingleth with it and then becometh dry twigs that the winds scatter. Allah is Able to do all things.

Transliteration Wa-drib lahum masalal haya_tid dunya_ kama_'in anzalna_hu minas sama_'i fa-khtalata bihi naba_tul ardi fa asbaha hasyiman tazru_hur riya_h(u), wa ka_nalla_hu 'ala_ kulli syai'im muqtadira_(n).

18: 46

Asad Wealth and children are an adornment of this world’s life: but good deeds, the fruit whereof endures forever, are of far greater merit in your Sustainer’s sight, and a far better source of hope.

Yusuf Ali Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world: but the things that endure Good Deeds are best in the sight of thy Lord as rewards and best as (the foundation for) hopes.

Pickthall Wealth and children are an ornament of life of the world. But the good deeds which endure are better in thy Lord's sight for reward, and better in respect of hope.

Transliteration Al ma_lu wal banu_na zinatul haya_tid dunya_, wal ba_qiya_tus sa_liha_tu khairun 'inda rabbika sawa_baw wa khairun amala_(n).

[Asad note 49 Lit., ………The expression ‘al-baqiyat as –salihat’ (good deeds, the fruits whereof endures forever”) occurs in the Quran twice – in the above verse as well as in 19:76]

[Ali’s notes: 2386 Rain-water is a good thing in itself, but it does not last, and you can build no solid foundations on it. It is soon absorbed in the earth, and produces the flourishing appearance of grass and vegetation-for a time. Soon these decay, and become as dry stubble, which the least wind from any quarter will blow about like a thing of no importance. The water is gone, and so is the vegetation to which it lent a brave show of luxuriance temporarily. Such is the life of this world, contrasted with the inner and real Life, which looks to the Hereafter-Allah is the only enduring Power we can look to, supreme over all. (18.45)

2387 Other things are fleeting: but Good Deeds have a lasting value in the sight of Allah. They are best as (or for) rewards in two ways: (1) they flow from us by the Grace of Allah, and are themselves rewards for our Faith: (2) they become the foundation of our hopes for the highest rewards in the Hereafter. (18.46)