# XLIX explained — The Luzumiyat

> Chapter companion for The Luzumiyat by Abu al-ʻAlaʼ al-Maʻarri.

## What happens

A quatrain reflecting on human existence as transient coins created by Allah, used by Fate to deceive Iblis, with both good and bad souls spent on a fleeting shadow.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mortality and Transience

The quatrain compares humans to coins that fade and are spent on a passing shade, emphasizing life's ephemeral nature.

### Illusion and Reality

The notion that Allah created humans to deceive Iblis suggests a deceptive or illusory purpose behind existence.

## Character check-ins

### Allah

Referenced as the creator of the coins (humans) in the quatrain.

### Fate

Depicted as the spender of the coins, using them to cheat Iblis.

## Key lines

> We are coins which fade In circulation, coins which Allah made To cheat Iblis: the good and bad alike Are spent by Fate upon a passing shade.

We are like coins that wear out as they are used, created by God to trick the devil; both virtuous and wicked people are used up by destiny for a fleeting, shadowy purpose.

_The quatrain uses the metaphor of coins to express the transient and seemingly deceptive nature of human life._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_luzumiyat_se/chapters/xlix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_luzumiyat_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_luzumiyat_se/chapters