حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ٱرْجِعُونِ 99
Translations
[For such is the state of the disbelievers] until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me back
Transliteration
Hattá idha jaa'a ahadahumu al-mawtu qala rabbi irji'un
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the moment when death approaches a disbeliever, who then desperately pleads with Allah, 'My Lord, send me back!' Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this plea comes too late, as the opportunity for repentance has passed and the soul is being seized by the angels of death. The ayah emphasizes the futility of seeking return to worldly life once death has arrived, highlighting the importance of righteous deeds during one's lifetime.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Mu'minun, a Meccan surah that comprehensively describes the characteristics of true believers and the fate of disbelievers. The broader context (ayahs 99-100) portrays the regret and desperation of those who rejected faith and failed to prepare for the afterlife, serving as a powerful warning to the Meccan audience about the irreversible nature of death.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'When the soul is about to be taken out, it ascends [to heaven], and they [the angels] do not let it pass by any group of angels except they ask, 'What is this good soul?' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim describes how at death, the soul recognizes whether it is going to paradise or hellfire, relating to the regret expressed in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a profound reminder that death is inevitable and the time for repentance is limited to one's lifetime; believers should therefore prioritize righteous deeds and spiritual preparation now, rather than postponing faith or assuming they will repent later.