Tafsir of At-Taghabun 64:15

"Your wealth and your children are but a trial," meaning a tribulation and a test, because they result in falling into sin, worldly hardships, and other such things. It is stated in a Hadith: "A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said, 'His family has consumed his good deeds.'" Some of the predecessors have said, "Dependents are the vermin of acts of obedience."

Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and al-Hakim—who authenticated it—narrated from Buraydah, who said: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was delivering a sermon when al-Hasan and al-Husayn arrived, wearing two red shirts, walking and stumbling. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, descended from the pulpit, carried them both, one on each side, then ascended the pulpit and said: "Allah has spoken the truth: 'Your wealth and your children are but a trial.' When I looked at these two boys walking and stumbling, I could not restrain myself from cutting short my speech and going down to them." In a narration by Ibn Mardawayh from Abdullah ibn Umar, it is reported that while the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was addressing the people from the pulpit, Husayn ibn Ali came out toward the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and stepped on the hem of a garment he was wearing, causing him to fall. He wept, so the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, descended from the pulpit. When the people saw him, they rushed toward Husayn, passing him to one another until he reached the hands of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, who said: "May Allah fight the devil; verily, the child is a trial. By Him in whose hand is my soul, I did not realize I had descended from my pulpit."

It is also said: If Jihad and Hijrah are possible for you, then let not your inclination toward wealth and children distract you. Regarding both, it is stated in al-Kashf that the "trial" here refers to the inclination toward wealth and children, rather than the punishment and sin. Wealth was mentioned first, it is said, because it is the greater trial: "No! Indeed, mankind transgresses when he sees himself self-sufficient." Ahmad, al-Tabarani, al-Hakim, and al-Tirmidhi—who authenticated it—narrated from Ka’b ibn ‘Iyad that he heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: "Indeed, every nation has a trial, and the trial of my nation is wealth."

A similar narration was produced by Ibn Mardawayh from Abdullah ibn Awfa in a marfu’ form. It is as if, due to the prevalence of the trial in wealth and children, the partitive min (from) was not mentioned, as it was in the preceding instances. "And with Allah is a great reward" for whoever prefers the love of Allah the Exalted and His obedience over the love of wealth and children, and over striving for their interests in a way that compromises the former.

"So fear Allah as much as you are able," meaning exert your effort and capacity in fearing Him, the Mighty and Majestic, as narrated by ‘Abd ibn Humayd and Ibn al-Mundhir from al-Rabi’ ibn Anas, and reported from Abu al-‘Aliyah.

Ibn Abi Hatim narrated from Sa’id ibn Jubayr who said: When the verse "Fear Allah as He ought to be feared" was revealed, the people labored intensely, standing until their heels swelled and their foreheads became ulcerated. Thus, Allah the Exalted revealed this to lighten the burden for the Muslims.