Meaning of the verse “And were it not that all mankind would have become of one community…” [az-Zukhruf 43:33]

Allah, may He be exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning): 

“And
were it not that all mankind would have become of one community (all
disbelievers, desiring worldly life only), We would have provided for those
who disbelieve in the Most Beneficent (Allah), silver roofs for their
houses, and elevators (and stair-ways, etc. of silver) whereby they ascend,

And for their houses, doors (of
silver), and thrones (of silver) on which they could recline,

And adornments of gold. Yet all this
(i.e. the roofs, doors, stairs, elevators, thrones etc. of their houses)
would have been nothing but an enjoyment of this world. And the Hereafter
with your Lord is only for the Muttaqoon (the pious)”

[az-Zukhruf 43:33-35]. 

Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him)
said: 

That is, were it not that many ignorant
people would believe that Our bestowal of wealth is indicative of Our love
for the recipient, so they would all come under the banner of disbelief for
the sake of wealth – this is what was meant by the words of Ibn ‘Abbaas, al-Hasan,
Qataadah, as-Suddi and others – “We
would have provided for those who disbelieve in the Most Beneficent (Allah),
silver roofs for their houses, and elevators (and stair-ways)”
that is, staircases and steps of silver – this was stated by Ibn ‘Abbaas,
Mujaahid, Qataadah, as-Suddi, Ibn Zayd and others –

“whereby
they ascend” that is,
climb up. 

“And
for their houses, doors”
and locks on their doors

“and
thrones (of silver) on which they could recline”
that is, all of that would be of silver

“And
adornments of gold”. 

Then He says: “Yet
all this (i.e. the roofs, doors, stairs, elevators, thrones etc. of their
houses) would have been nothing but an enjoyment of this world”
that is, this is only part of that transient, temporary world that is
insignificant before Allah, may He be exalted. In other words, because of
the good things they do in this world, He hastens to give them fine food and
drink, so that when they come to the Hereafter, they will have no good deeds
for which the reward will still be outstanding. 

Then He says: “And
the Hereafter with your Lord is only for the Muttaqoon (the pious)”
that is, it is only for them and will not be shared with anyone else. 

End quote from Tafseer Ibn Katheer
(7/226-227). See also Tafseer as-Sa ‘di (p. 765) 

Secondly: 

The lesson we learn from these verses
comes in the context of criticism of the life of this world, for it is not
worth the weight of a gnat’s wing. If Allah so willed, He could give the
disbeliever everything he desires of this world, because it is so
insignificant to Him and he (the disbeliever) is so insignificant to Him,
may He be glorified. But by His mercy, He does not grant him all types of
worldly gain, lest people be tempted by that and hasten to disbelieve, and
they forget the hereafter. 

Ibn Abi Shaybah (7/105) narrated with a
saheeh isnaad from Ibn Mas‘ood who said: Verily Allah grants worldly gain to
those whom He loves and those whom He does not love, but He does not grant
faith to anyone except those whom He loves. If Allah loves a person, He
grants him faith.                          

Therefore what the Muslim must do, if he
is living a life of hardship in this world and he sees the disbeliever
living a life of ease, is not to be sad; rather he should think positively
of Allah and understand that Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is not
withholding worldly gain from him because he is insignificant to Him, and He
does not give it to the disbeliever as an honour to him; rather it is the
other way round. 

Al-Bukhaari (4913) and Muslim (1479)
narrated that ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) entered upon the
Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and he had
been sleeping on a reed mat that had left marks on his side, and beneath his
head was a pillow of leather stuffed with palm fibres. ‘Umar said: I saw the
marks left by the reed mat on his side, and I wept. He said: What is making
you weep? I said: O Messenger of Allah, verily Chosroes and Caesar are
living the lives they live, but you are the Messenger of Allah! He said:
“Does it not please you that this world is for them and the Hereafter is for
you?” 

Thirdly: 

We do not know of any specific reason for
the revelation of these verses; rather they come under the same category as
other verses that condemn this world and those who care only about it, and
urge people to seek the hereafter and its reward and status, and what Allah
has prepared in it for its people of eternal bliss, as Allah, may He be
exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“The
life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing)”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:185]

“And
the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is
the house in the Hereafter for those who are Al-Muttaqoon (the pious). Will
you not then understand?”

[al-An‘aam 6:32]. 

With regard to the story of Qaroon, it is
a practical, real-life example, and definitive proof, that highlights the
message of these verses and others which condemn this world and show how the
people whose main focus is this world were distracted by it from the
hereafter, and they were content with it and thus were distracted from
obeying and worshipping Allah, and how they were punished in this world. 

If people gain all luxuries and all good
things in this world, they become insolent and transgress, and they forget
to give thanks for the blessings. 

Fear of its temptation should make one
lose interest in it and focus on the hereafter, and it should prompt one to
use whatever blessings one has been given in obedience to Allah, for that is
part of perfect gratitude. 

Allah, may He be exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“That
home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel
not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief
by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqoon (pious)”

[al-Qasas 28:83]. 

For more information, please see the
answers to questions no. 175615,
84091 and 147234. 

And Allah knows best..