قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْمَوْتَ ٱلَّذِى تَفِرُّونَ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُۥ مُلَـٰقِيكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ 8
Translations
Say, "Indeed, the death from which you flee - indeed, it will meet you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you about what you used to do."
Transliteration
Qul inna al-mawta alladhi tafirruna minhu fa-innahu mulaqikum, thumma turraduna ila alimi al-ghaybi wa-al-shahadata fayunabbikum bima kuntum taAmalun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to declare that death, which people flee from, will inevitably meet them regardless of their efforts to escape it. This ayah emphasizes that all souls will return to Allah—the Knower of the unseen and the seen—who will then inform them of all their deeds and judge them accordingly. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this serves as both a warning against false security and a reminder of Divine justice and accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Jumu'ah, a Medinan surah addressing believers about worship and the Day of Judgment. It appears in the context of reminding the Muslim community of life's transience and the certainty of the Hereafter, serving as a counterbalance to worldly preoccupations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Remember frequently the destroyer of pleasures—death' (Tirmidhi 2307). Also relevant: 'Every soul shall taste death' (Quran 3:185), emphasizing the universal nature of mortality.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no amount of worldly effort can postpone death—it is an appointment all must keep—therefore believers should focus on righteous deeds knowing Allah sees all and will judge justly. It encourages believers to live with consciousness of the Hereafter rather than pursuing illusory escape from mortality.