Tafsir of Yunus 10:70

"A brief enjoyment" (Mata‘un) is the predicate of an omitted subject—that is, "it is" or "that is" a brief enjoyment. The tanwin (indefinite marking) is for the purpose of belittlement and minimization. The adverbial phrase (fi al-dunya) is connected to the meaning of "that which is with them" or to an omitted descriptor that functions as an adjective for it. The sentence is a new, inaugural statement presented as an answer to a presumed question regarding what appears to be the case with them—outwardly—in terms of attaining their desires and winning worldly fortunes absolutely, or within the context of their fabrication. It is an explanation that this is far removed from being of the nature of true success (falah).

It is as if it were said: "How can they not succeed when they are in a state of envy and bliss?" To which it was replied: "It [or that] is a lowly, brief enjoyment in this world, and it is not the attainment of what is desired." Then, the negation of their salvation from what is disliked is signaled by His saying—Glory be to Him—: Thumma ilayna marji‘uhum (Then unto Us is their return); meaning, to Our judgment is their return by death, whereupon they will encounter eternal misery. Thumma nudhiquhum al-‘adhab al-shadid bima kanu yakfurun (Then We shall make them taste the severe punishment because they used to disbelieve); meaning, on account of their continuous disbelief or because of their disbelief in the world. So where are they in relation to success?

What we have mentioned—that mata‘ is the predicate of an omitted subject—is the view held by more than one of the Arabists. However, Abu al-Baqa’ and others among them posited the omitted subject as "their life," "their fluctuations," or "their fabrication." The estimation of the latter has been objected to on the grounds that mata‘ (enjoyment/provision) is only applied to that which is found desirable by the soul, to be enjoyed and benefited from; it is disregarded only because of its rapid disappearance. The act of fabrication against Him—Glory be to Him—is one of the most hideous of evils to the soul, let alone being something desirable to it. It was answered that the application of mata‘ to that [fabrication] is in consideration of the fact that it is desirable to their malicious souls, and there is a benefit in it for them according to what they perceive as benefit, even if it is one of the most hideous of evils and is not beneficial in the true reality of the matter. It is not hidden that the first approach is superior to this. It has also been said that the mentioned term is the subject with an omitted predicate—i.e., "For them is an enjoyment, etc."—and this is not far-fetched.

The verse is either presented from His side—Glory be to Him—to establish the reality of their lack of success, not included in the speech which [the Prophet] was commanded [to convey]—which is what is necessitated by the apparent meaning of His saying "Then unto Us is their return" and His saying "Then We shall make them taste"—or it is included within that which he was commanded to convey, in the sense that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was commanded to transmit and narrate it from Him—His majesty be exalted—and this has parallels in the Noble Book.