Transliteration:( Wa latajidannahum ahrasannaasi 'alaa hayaatinw wa minal lazeena ashrakoo; yawaddu ahaduhum law yu'ammaru alfa sanatinw wa maa huwa bi muzahzihihee minal 'azaabi ai yu'ammar; wallaahu baseerum bimaa ya'maloon )
"And you will surely find them the greediest of people for life, even more than those who associate partners with Allah. Each of them wishes to live for a thousand years, but even if they were granted such a long life, it would not save them from the punishment. [183] And Allah is All-Seeing of what they do. [184]"
This verse highlights that the Yahud are even more greedy for worldly life than idolaters (mushrikeen).
Each of them wishes for a life of a thousand years, thinking it will save them from divine punishment.
However, even a life that long will not prevent Allah’s punishment, because length of life has no value if it is not used for earning the Hereafter.
From this, we learn that:
Greed for long life and worldly pleasures is the trait of disbelievers,
A believer may wish for a longer life only to accumulate good deeds, not to enjoy this world,
The intention behind desiring longevity matters in the sight of Allah.
This verse teaches several key principles:
Wealth and long life are not signs of divine approval, unless they are used to increase in piety and obedience to Allah.
The Islamic greeting of Salaam—which means peace and blessings for this world and the Hereafter—is far superior to the worldly-limited greetings of non-believers.
The punishment for renegades and hypocrites is extremely severe, and no worldly success or longevity can shield them from divine justice.
The tafsir of Surah Baqarah verse 96 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Baqarah ayat 94 which provides the complete commentary from verse 94 through 96.
(2:96) You will certainly find them most eager to cling on to life,[99] indeed even more eager than those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity. Each one of them wishes to live a thousand years although the bestowal of long life cannot remove him from chastisement. Allah sees whatever they do.
99. The Arabic text implies that the Jews were so frightened of death and so keen to remain alive that they did not mind whether they led an honourable and dignified existence, or whether their life was one of indignity and humiliation.
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