Surah Az-Zukhruf
Surah 43 · The Ornaments of Gold · 89 verses · meccan
The Ornaments of Gold — az-Zukhruf, from verse 35, where gold and silver are described as nothing more than the enjoyment of this brief life.
The story
Some people said the Quran should have gone to a rich, important man instead. Allah answered: do *you* decide who I choose? Gold and silver are nothing to Allah — He would give them to anyone.
How it unfolds
AYAH 1-35
Whose mercy is it
The demand for a "great man", answered — and gold and silver put in proportion.
AYAH 20-30
Following the fathers
The recurring excuse: "we found our fathers upon a religion" — and Ibrahim who did not.
AYAH 46-56
Musa and Pharaoh
Pharaoh mocking a man with a stammer and no gold bracelets, and what became of him.
AYAH 67-89
Friends on that Day
Friendships that turn to enmity, except those built on God-consciousness.
Verses to carry
- 43:67"Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other — except the righteous."
- 43:32"Is it they who distribute the mercy of your Lord?"
- 43:36Whoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Merciful is assigned a devil as a companion.
Remember this
Choose your friends carefully. The friends who help you be good are the ones who will still be your friends on the Last Day.
Talk about it
Who is a friend that makes you a better person? What do they do?