وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ لِمَن يُقْتَلُ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمْوَٰتٌۢ ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَآءٌ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَشْعُرُونَ 154
Translations
And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allāh, "They are dead." Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not.
Transliteration
Wa lā taqūlū li-man yuqtal fī sabīl illāh amwāt; bal ahyā'un wa-lākin lā tash'urūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the believers, instructing them not to refer to those who are killed in the path of Allah as 'dead,' but rather as 'alive.' Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this to mean that martyrs (shahādā) possess a special spiritual life with their Lord, even though their earthly bodies have perished—a life that the living cannot perceive with their physical senses. This reflects the Quranic concept that death in Allah's cause grants the martyr an elevated spiritual state and nearness to the Divine.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period within the context of Surah Al-Baqarah, which addresses the Muslim community during a time of military struggle and sacrifice. It comes after verses encouraging patience and resilience (2:153-157), providing spiritual comfort to believers facing the loss of loved ones in jihād fī sabīl illāh (struggle in the path of Allah).
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallā Allāhu 'alayhi wa-sallam) said: 'Do not consider those killed in Allah's cause as dead; rather they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision' (similar to reports in Sunan Ibn Mājah and Sunan An-Nasā'ī). Additionally, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet described martyrs' souls as being in green birds that feed from the fruits of Paradise.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sacrifice in the path of Allah grants a special honor and spiritual elevation that transcends physical death, offering comfort to those grieving loved ones lost in righteous causes and reminding us that divine reality extends beyond what our limited senses can perceive.