تَّكَاثُر

24:38; 48:12; 62:10.

Important Words:

التکاثر (mutual rivalry in worldly increase) is derived from کثر i.e. it was or became much, abundant, copious, great in number; it multiplied; it accumulated. تکاثروا means, they contended, one with another, for superiority in numbers. التکاثرmeans, contending with one another for superiority in numbers or property, children and men. تکاثرت أمواله means, his riches multiplied by degrees (Lane).

Commentary:

Acquisitiveness and man’s inordinate desire to outstrip others in wealth, position and prestige lies at the root of all human troubles and the neglect of the higher values of life. It is man’s great misfortune that his passion for acquiring worldly things knows no limit and leaves him no time to think of God or the Hereafter. He remains entirely engrossed in these things till death comes upon him.

Against general practice, the verb الھا has not been followed by the preposition عن in this verse. This enlarges the meaning of the verb, covering, as it does, all the things that are calculated to divert man’s attention from God and not from any particular thing or object.