Quran Universe
40:39

يَٰقَوۡمِ إِنَّمَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا مَتَٰعٞ وَإِنَّ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ هِيَ دَارُ ٱلۡقَرَارِ

Ya qawmi innama hathihi alhayatu alddunya mataAAun wainna alakhirata hiya daru alqarari

O my people, this worldly life is only [temporary] enjoyment, and indeed, the Hereafter - that is the home of [permanent] settlement.

Word by word
  1. يَٰقَوۡمِO my people
  2. إِنَّمَاOnly
  3. هَٰذِهِthis
  4. ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُthe life
  5. ٱلدُّنۡيَا(of) the world
  6. مَتَٰعٞ(is) enjoyment
  7. وَإِنَّand indeed
  8. ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَthe Hereafter
  9. هِيَit
  10. دَارُ(is the) home
  11. ٱلۡقَرَارِ(of) settlement
Ghafir · 40:39Makkah

This life is a passing enjoyment. The next is home.

Temporary use versus a settled home

Two homes
this worldenjoymentfades and passes
versus
the Hereafterhome of settlementno departure
Where to invest
the rentaldecorate it forever
the homebuild where you stay

His people preferred this world, and it kept them from believing in Musa. Ibn Kathir says he told them this life is insignificant and fleeting, while the Hereafter is the home with no departure.

You spend weeks choosing curtains for a flat you will leave in a year. Fine. But you would not pour your whole savings into it. This world is the rented flat. Enjoy it, and build where you will stay.

This life is the main event.

This life is a short stay. The home I am building is the one after.

Try this

Spend ten minutes today on something only the next life will reward.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 40:38)

And the man who believed said: "O my people! Follow me, I will guide you to the way of right conduct. (38)"O my people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing but an enjoyment, and verily, the Hereafter that is the home that will remain forever. (39)"Whoever does an evil deed, will not be requited except the like thereof; and whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female and is a true believer, such will enter Paradise, where they will be provided therein without limit. (40)

More of what the Believer from Fir'awn's Family said

This believer said to his people who persisted in their rebellion and transgression, and preferred the life of this world:

يَا قَوْمِ اتَّبِعُونِ أَهْدِكُمْ سَبِيلَ الرَّشَادِ

(O my people! Follow me, I will guide you to the way of right conduct.) This is in contrast to the false claim of Fir'awn:

وَمَا أَهْدِيكُمْ إِلَّا سَبِيلَ الرَّشَادِ

(and I guide you only to the path of right policy.) Then he sought to make them shun this world which they preferred to the Hereafter, and which had prevented them from believing in the Messenger of Allah, Musa, peace be upon him. He said:

يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّمَا هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا مَتَاعٌ

(O my people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing but an enjoyment,) meaning, it is insignificant and fleeting, and soon it will diminish and pass away.

وَإِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ هِيَ دَارُ الْقَرَارِ

(and verily, the Hereafter that is the home that will remain forever.) means, the abode which will never end and from which there will be no departure, which will be either Paradise or Hell. Allah says:

مَنْ عَمِلَ سَيِّئَةً فَلَا يُجْزَىٰ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا ۖ 

(Whosoever does an evil deed, will not be requited except the like thereof;) means, one like it.

وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَٰئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ يُرْزَقُونَ فِيهَا بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ 

(and whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female and is a true believer, such will enter Paradise, where they will be provided therein without limit.) means, the reward cannot be enumerated, but Allah will give an immense reward without end. And Allah is the Guide to the straight path.