And when this is a supplication in general terms, and the ailment is entirely in turning towards the transient, and the remedy is entirely in advancing towards the everlasting, he said, beginning anew in response to the one who asked about the details of this path, clarifying that it is the turning away from what perishes to what remains. He belittled the world and minimized its significance because clinging to it is the root of all evil, and from it branches forth what leads to the wrath of Allah: ﴿O my people﴾. He repeated this to further appeal to them, as they are his people, so he is not suspected in his counsel to them since he does not want for them except what he wants for himself. And when the souls, being naturally inclined to illusion, do not consider what is obtained except what is present, he emphasized and said: ﴿Indeed, this life﴾ and he belittled it by saying: ﴿the world﴾, indicating its lowliness, and by saying: ﴿a provision﴾, indicating that it is carrion, for in the language it is among the meanings of provision. So one only takes from it as the desperate takes from carrion; for it is the abode of destruction, transience, provision, and departure.

And when he began with the condemnation of the world, he followed with the praise of the Hereafter, saying: ﴿And indeed, the Hereafter﴾ as it is the ultimate goal in itself ﴿is the abode of permanence﴾ from which there is no transition at all, the eternal reward and punishment of everything. It is for enjoyment, benefit, luxury, and expansion for whoever seeks that through good following, or for misery and destruction for whoever dares to commit prohibitions and belittles transgression. Al-Asfahani said: Some of the knowledgeable ones said: If the world were gold [transient] and the Hereafter pottery remaining, the Hereafter would be better than the world. So how about when the world is transient pottery and the Hereafter is remaining gold, rather it is more noble and better.

And just as the bliss in it is everlasting, so too is the punishment. Thus, the encouragement towards the bliss of Paradise and the warning from the punishment of Hellfire is among the greatest aspects of encouragement and warning. The verse is from the interplay: mentioning the provision first is a sign of the omission of the expansion second, and the permanence second is a sign of the omission of the departure first.