إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّا مَوْتَتُنَا ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُنشَرِينَ 35
Translations
"There is not but our first death, and we will not be resurrected.
Transliteration
In hiya illa mawtatuna al-ula wa ma nahnu bi-munsharin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the false belief of the disbelievers who deny the Resurrection, claiming that death is merely a single, final event with no afterlife or resurrection to follow. Ibn Kathir explains that these deniers rejected the concept of eternal life after death, insisting that physical death was the absolute end of human existence. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this statement represents the ultimate manifestation of their arrogance and rejection of divine truth, as they stubbornly refused to accept the signs of Allah regarding the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ad-Dukhan, which was revealed in Mecca during a period of intense rejection of the Prophet's message. The surah addresses the disbelievers' mockery and denial of fundamental Islamic beliefs, particularly the concept of resurrection and accountability in the Hereafter. This specific ayah reflects the actual statements and mindset of the Meccan disbelievers who dismissed the resurrection as an impossibility.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The example of this Ummah (nation) and the previous nations is like the example of a man who hired workers and said to them: Who will work for me until midday for one Qirat? The Jews worked until midday for one Qirat each. Then he said: Who will work for me from midday until Asr time for one Qirat? The Christians worked until Asr for one Qirat each.' (Sahih Bukhari 3452) - This relates to the theme of different responses to divine guidance and the reality of divine justice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that denying the Hereafter and divine accountability is not merely an intellectual disagreement but a fundamental rejection of truth that stems from spiritual blindness and arrogance. For believers, it reinforces the importance of accepting Allah's promise of resurrection and living with consciousness of the Hereafter, as this belief should inspire righteous conduct and humble submission to the Divine.