The divine Book has many examples of this...

The divine Book has many examples of this, and it suffices to only mention His saying: “The life of the world is just a play and diversion.” Quran 47:36 “But the abode of the Hereafter is indeed Life, had they known.” Quran 29:64 Meaning, it is only the life hereafter that is the real and true life, by virtue of the fact that He Almighty mentioned this worldly life as a life of ‘play and diversion’.

He has done this by confining life only to the life of the hereafter and negating anything that might be considered similar to it or it being similar to anything. His words bear witness to this: “They know just an outward aspect of the life of this world, but they are oblivious of the hereafter.” Quran 30:7 This verse indicates that the life of the world has something else besides its outward characteristics and this is the life of the hereafter because of the usage of the word ‘oblivious’.

It is similar to what a friend understands when you tell him: “You have grasped the outer meaning of what I said but you are unaware of something else”. This saying of yours demonstrates that the friend was unaware of the hidden and intended part of your words which was something else. The divine saying of Allah also proves this: “So avoid those who turn away from Our remembrance and desire nothing but the life of the world. This is the ultimate reach of their knowledge.

Indeed your Lord knows best those who stray from His way, and He knows best those who are [rightly] guided.” Quran 53:29-30 It is understood from this verse that remembrance of Allah the Almighty is the path towards Him, and to turn away and avoid Him is to stray from His path. Remembrance of Allah Almighty can only be achieved by turning away from the life of the world, and those who turn away from His remembrance will only attain the knowledge of this world.

Furthermore, knowledge of this world cannot transcend and go beyond anything further in comparison to that which can be achieved only through remembrance. Therefore, there is something other than this worldly life that is vertical to it, and one could acquire knowledge of it or one could remain in this life of this world. For more explanation, refer to what is written towards the end of this book, by the will of Allah the Glorious.