Quran Universe
28:80

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ وَيۡلَكُمۡ ثَوَابُ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرٞ لِّمَنۡ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗاۚ وَلَا يُلَقَّىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ

Waqala allatheena ootoo alAAilma waylakum thawabu Allahi khayrun liman amana waAAamila salihan wala yulaqqaha illa alssabiroona

But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient."

Word by word
  1. وَقَالَBut said
  2. ٱلَّذِينَthose who
  3. أُوتُواْwere given
  4. ٱلۡعِلۡمَthe knowledge
  5. وَيۡلَكُمۡWoe to you
  6. ثَوَابُ(The) reward
  7. ٱللَّهِ(of) Allah
  8. خَيۡرٞ(is) better
  9. لِّمَنۡfor (he) who
  10. ءَامَنَbelieves
  11. وَعَمِلَand does
  12. صَٰلِحٗاۚrighteous (deeds)
  13. وَلَاAnd not
  14. يُلَقَّىٰهَآit is granted
  15. إِلَّاexcept
  16. ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ(to) the patient ones
Al-Qasas · 28:80Makkah

Allah's reward is better, and only the patient reach it.

What people of knowledge said at the parade

The reply
those with knowledgewoe to you
say
Allah's rewardfor faith and good deeds
for
the patientwho let go of the craving
What is worth wanting
Qarun's richesseen, envied
what no eye has seenprepared by Allah

People of beneficial knowledge answered the crowd: Allah's reward is better for those who believe and do good. Ibn Kathir cites the hadith that Allah has prepared what no eye has seen and no ear has heard. Ibn Jarir said it is reached by those who patiently give up love of this world.

Your friend posts the new car; you post nothing, saving for your parents' care. It does not look like winning. What Allah has prepared is beyond what anyone can see. Patience with your own life is the price.

If I cannot have it now, I am missing out.

Patiently not chasing this world is the way to a reward far better than any parade.

Try this

Tell one friend something kind about their life today instead of comparing it to yours.

Related32:17
Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 28:79)

So, he went forth before his people in his finery. Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said: "Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun has been given! Verily, he is the owner of a great fortune. (79)But those who had been given knowledge said: "Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for those who believe and do righteous deeds, and this none shall attain except the patient. (80)

How Qarun went forth in His Finery, and His People's Comments

Allah tells us how Qarun went forth one day before his people with his magnificent regalia; wearing his fine clothes, accompanied by his fine horses, his servants and retinue. When those whose desires and inclinations were for the world saw his adornments and splendor, they wished that they could have the same as he had been given, and said:

يَا لَيْتَ لَنَا مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ قَارُونُ إِنَّهُ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ 

(Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun has been given! Verily, he is the owner of a great fortune.) meaning, 'he is very lucky and has a great share in this world.' When the people of beneficial knowledge heard this, they said to them:

وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِمَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا 

(Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for those who believe and do righteous deeds,) 'Allah's reward to His believing, righteous servants in the Hereafter is better than what you see,' as is reported in the authentic Hadith:

يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالَى: أَعْدَدْتُ لِعِبَادِي الصَّالِحِينَ مَا لَا عَيْنٌ رَأَتْ وَلَا أُذُنٌ سَمِعَتْ وَلَا خَطَرَ عَلَى قَلْبِ بَشَرٍ وَاقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ: فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَا أُخْفِيَ لَهُمْ مِنْ قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ 

(Allah has prepared for His righteous servants what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and the heart of a human cannot comprehend. Recite, if you wish: (No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.))(32:17).

وَلَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الصَّابِرُونَ

(and this none shall attain except the patient.) As-Suddi said: "None shall reach Paradise except for the patient" – as if this were the completion of the statement made by the people of knowledge. Ibn Jarir said, "This applies only to those who patiently forsake the love of this world, seeking the Hereafter. It is as if this is part of what the people of knowledge said, but it is made part of the Words of Allah, stating this fact."