وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ 85
Translations
And We [i.e., Our angels] are nearer to him than you, but you do not see -
Transliteration
Wa nahnu aqrabu ilayhi minkum wa laakin laa tubsiroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah affirms that He is closer to the human soul at the moment of death than the witnesses and mourners surrounding the dying person, yet they cannot perceive this divine proximity due to the limitations of human perception. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this closeness refers to Allah's knowledge, power, and control over the soul's departure, highlighting the profound mystery of death and the unseen realm that remains hidden from mortal sight.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Waqi'ah, which describes the events of the Day of Judgment and the stages of death. It addresses the disbelievers' denial of the resurrection and provides reassurance to believers about Allah's complete awareness and presence during the critical moment of death, a moment they deny or misunderstand.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The angels come to the dying person and if he is righteous, they say, "O good soul, come out to the forgiveness and pleasure of Allah."' (Sunan Ibn Majah and others). This hadith complements the ayah by illustrating the unseen reality of the soul's departure that humans cannot perceive.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that despite our inability to perceive the divine presence, Allah remains intimately close to us, especially during life's critical moments. It encourages believers to trust in Allah's watchfulness and wisdom even when circumstances seem beyond our understanding or control.