Surah Yunus: 24
"The likeness of the worldly life is only..."
This is a compound simile (tashbih murakkab). The state of the world—in the swiftness of its passing and the extinction of its delights after they have flourished—is likened to the state of earth’s vegetation as it dries up and turns into debris after having been lush and dense, adorning the earth with its greenery and freshness.
{So it mingled with it}
It became intertwined because of it, until one part mixed with another.
{The earth took on its adornment and became beautified}
This is eloquent speech. The earth is depicted as taking on its adornment by way of metaphor, like a bride who puts on luxurious garments of every color, dressing herself in them and adorning herself with various ornaments. The root of izayyanat (ازينت) is tazayyanat (تزينت), where the letter was assimilated. This is how ‘Abdullah recited it. It was also recited as azyanat (أزينت)—meaning af‘alat—without the assimilation of the verb, similar to aghaylat, meaning "it became possessed of adornment." Another reading is izayyanat (ازيانت), on the scale of ibyaddat.
{That they have power over it}
They are capable of benefiting from it, obtaining its fruit, and removing any obstacles to it.
{Our command came to it}
This refers to the striking of their crops with some blight, occurring after they felt secure and certain that it was safe.
{So We made it}
We made its crops...
{As a harvest}
Resembling what is reaped of crops in its being cut down and uprooted.
{As if it had not flourished}
As if its crops had not flourished. This requires the ellipsis of the added noun (mudaf); otherwise, the meaning would not be sound. Al-Hasan recited it as ka-an lam yaghna (كأن لم يغن) with a ya’, implying the pronoun refers to the omitted noun, which is the "crop." It is reported that Marwan recited from the pulpit: ka-an lam tataghanna bil-ams (كأن لم تتغن بالأمس), based on the verse of al-A‘sha: "Long in dwelling, long in flourishing." "Yesterday" is a metaphor for the recent past; it is as if it were said: "As if it had not flourished just a moment ago."
{And Allah invites to the Home of Peace and guides whom He wills to a straight path.}
