Why has the life of this world been described as play and amusement? لماذا وصفت الحياة الدنيا بأنها لعب ولهو

Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions.

As to what follows:

 In response to your question, we say, and with Allah Almighty lies all success:

 The life of this world being described as play and amusement is with respect to the nature of the life of this world, and that most actions therein and what most people are preoccupied with is indeed play and amusement. This description is based on what is most common. As for what takes place therein of the actions of the God-fearing and acts of obedience of the obedient, it is not considered play and amusement. Rather this is the true life and eternal happiness for the one whom Allah has granted success to attain it and assisted to remain steadfast upon it. This is why Allah Almighty said:

 “And the worldly life is nothing but play and amusement; but the home of the hereafter is best for those who fear Allah, so will you not then reason?” [Al-An`am 6:32]

 So you realize from this that the actions of the God-fearing do not come under play and amusement. Instead it is from the means of attaining the home of the hereafter which Allah Almighty described as the eternal life:

“And indeed, the home of the hereafter - that is the eternal life, if only they knew.” [Al-`Ankabut 29:64]

As for their life in this world, Allah described it as a good one. He Almighty said:

“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.” [Al-Nahl 16:97]

Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said regarding this verse in his Tafsir, “This is a promise from Allah Almighty to those Children of Adam, male or female, who do righteous deeds – deeds in accordance with the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace be upon him), with a heart that believes in Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), while believing that these deeds are commanded and enjoined by Allah. Allah promises that He will give them a good life in this world and that He will reward them according to the best of their deeds in the hereafter.”

And Allah knows best.