The meaning of work in the Qur'an

It was reported in Tafsir Ibn Kathir:

The meaning of Allah's Saying: "Then when the (Jumu'ah) Salât (prayer) is ended," [Surat Al Jumu`ah: 10] is when you end Salah. "You may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allâh (by working, etc.)." [Surat Al Jumu`ah: 10]. When Allah forbade the people to work when they hear the Friday Adhan and commanded them to gather, He permitted them to disperse through the land and to seek the bounty of Allah. When `Irak ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) finished the Friday Salah, he used to stand at the door of the masjid and say: O Allah, I have responded to Your Call, performed Salah, and dispersed as You commanded me, so grant me sustenance, for You are the best Provider. [Reported by Ibn Abu Hatim].

Some Pious Predecessors said: Whoever purchases or sells on Friday after the Salah, Allah will bless his purchase and selling seventy times because of Allah's Saying: "you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allâh (by working, etc.)."

As for Allah's Saying: "And remember Allâh much: that you may be successful," it means to mention Allah frequently during your selling and purchasing, taking and giving, and do not be engaged with the world rather than the Hereafter.

It was reported in Tafsir Al Qurtuby:

Allah says: "He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you (i.e. easy for you to walk, to live and to do agriculture on it)" [Surat Al Mulk: 15]. It means: Easy to settle on. Allah did not make the earth hard to walk on but made it easy for walking and established it so as not to go away with its people. It was said: Allah indicated in this Ayah that the earth is easy to plant and to dig fountains, rivers, and wells in.

"so walk in the paths thereof." It is a command for the people to walk and show gratitude. It was also said: He made the earth easy so that you would walk in its sides and on its mountains.

Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah, and Bashir ibn Ka`b said: "Manakibiha" means mountains.

It was reported that Bashir ibn Ka`b had a slave girl. One day he said to her, if you tell me what is the meaning of "Manakibiha," you will be free. Thereupon, she said: "Manakibiha" means mountains, and she became free. Mujahid said: "Manakibiha" means its sides, and the meaning is: Walk wherever you want, for I made it easy for you.

Qatadah narrated from Abu Al Jald that the earth has 24.000 leagues: Sudan had 12.000, the Romans had 8.000, the Persians had 3.000, and the Arabs had 1.000.

Al Hasan said: "And eat of His provision." i.e., of the lawful things which He made for you.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir to this Ayah: "He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you (i.e. easy for you to walk, to live and to do agriculture on it) so walk in the paths thereof." [Surat Al Mulk: 15]. It means: Travel wherever you want and go to its sides by commerce and gain profits, but let it be known that your efforts are worthless unless Allah facilitates them for you, therefore, He said: "And eat of His provision." [Surat Al Mulk: 15]. Exerting efforts does not contradict reliance on Allah as Imam Ahmad said: `Umar ibn Al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: "If you all depend on Allah with due reliance, He would certainly give you provision as He gives it to birds who go forth hungry in the morning and return with full belly at dusk." [Reported by At-Tirmidhy, An-Nasa'y, and Ibn Majah from the Hadith of Ibn Hubayrah. At-Tirmidhy said: A good and authentic Hadith]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) attributed going and returning to birds for the sake of seeking provision along with their reliance on Allah (Glory be to Him) who subjugates them and provides them sustenance.

It was reported in Tafsir At-Tabary:

As for Allah's Saying: "And forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world." [Surat Al Qasas: 77], it means: Do not forget your share of the world as well as your share of the Hereafter, so do things which can save you from the punishment of Allah.

Ibn `Abbas said: The meaning of Allah's Saying: "And forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world; and do good as Allâh has been good to you." do not stop working for the sake of Allah in the world. Allah also said: "And forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world." He said: Do not forget to work for the Hereafter.

`Awn ibn `Abdullah said: "And forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world." some people understand this Ayah wrongly, it means: Work in it according to Allah's Obedience.

Mujahid said: "And forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world." He said: Working according to His Obedience and working in the world for the Hereafter, and these are the actions which will be rewarded for in the Hereafter.

Ibn Zayd said: The meaning of Allah's Saying: "And forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world." is: Do not forget to advance actions for your Hereafter in the world because you only find in the Hereafter what you offered in the world.

Others said: The meaning is: Do not forget to ask for your share of worldly matters.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir to the Ayah:

The meaning of this Ayah: "And forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world." is: Lawful enjoyment of the world which Allah permitted such as: Food, drink, clothes, housing, marriage, for your Lord has a right upon you, there is a share for yourself, and a share for your family, so give everyone his share.

Tafsir Al Qurtuby to the Ayah:

As for Allah's Saying: "And forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world." Scholars differed about it according to the following:

Ibn `Abbas and the majority of scholars said: Do not waste your life without doing righteous actions in the world because a person must work for the Hereafter because the share of man is his life and his righteous actions, so the meaning is: A harsh admonition to a person that he should keep to righteous actions. Al Hasan and Qatadah said: The meaning is: Do not forget your share of the world by enjoying lawful things, seeking it, and looking at the consequence of your world. So, the meaning is: A kind admonition and fixing the matter so as not to averse a person from admonition, as Ibn `Atiyyah said:

I said: Both interpretations were combined by Ibn `Umar in his saying: "Do for your world as if you will live long and do for the Hereafter as if you are going to die tomorrow."

Al Hasan said: Advance righteous actions and then give up other actions. Malik said: Food and drink without extravagance. It was said: The meaning of the share is the shroud, so do not forget that you shall leave out all your money except your share which is the shroud.

Ibn Al `Araby said: The best view is the view of Qatadah who said: Do not forget your lawful share, for it is your share of the world.