وَلَئِن مُّتُّمْ أَوْ قُتِلْتُمْ لَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُحْشَرُونَ 158
Translations
And whether you die or are killed, unto Allāh you will be gathered.
Transliteration
Wa-la-in muttum aw qutiltum la-ila-Allah tuḥsharūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that whether Muslims die naturally or are killed in the path of Allah, their ultimate return and gathering is to Allah alone on the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a consolation to believers, particularly those facing hardship or martyrdom, assuring them that death is not the end but rather a transition to Allah's divine justice and mercy. The ayah underscores the Islamic doctrine of resurrection and accountability before Allah, regardless of how or when one's earthly life ends.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ali 'Imran, revealed in Medina during the period of early Islamic warfare and trials. It comes in the context of the Battle of Uhud (3 AH), where Muslims faced significant losses and challenges to their faith. The surah addresses believers' anxieties about death and defeat in battle, reminding them of the ultimate reality of resurrection and divine reckoning.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of deaths is martyrdom' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet emphasized that all souls return to Allah, stating that death brings no loss to those who die in obedience to Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to transcend fear of death by recognizing it as merely a transition to standing before Allah, thereby encouraging steadfastness in faith and righteous conduct in all circumstances. It provides spiritual comfort to those facing adversity, reminding us that our ultimate concern should be our return to Allah and the state of our souls, not the circumstances of our death.