كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ ٱلنَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ 185
Translations
Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.
Transliteration
Kullu nafsin dha'iqatul mawt wa-inna ma tuwaffawna ujurakum yawma al-qiyamah faman zuhziha 'anil nari wa-udkhila al-jannata faqad faza wa-mal hayatul dunya illa mata'ul ghurur
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the inevitability of death for all souls and emphasizes that true reward comes only on the Day of Judgment, not in this worldly life. Ibn Kathir explains that the ayah serves as a powerful reminder that worldly success and material possessions are merely deceptive enjoyments, while the real triumph (fawz) lies in salvation from Hell and entry into Paradise. Al-Qurtubi notes that this verse consoled believers facing persecution in Mecca by redirecting their focus from temporary worldly suffering to eternal divine justice.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Madinah (Surah Ali 'Imran is Medinan) during a period when the Muslim community faced various trials and hardships. It appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of faith, the afterlife, and the battle of Uhud, serving to strengthen believers' conviction in the hereafter despite worldly difficulties and to remind them of life's transient nature.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever' (Sahih Muslim 2956). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Remember frequently the destroyer of pleasures—death' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2307), which directly relates to the first part of this ayah about tasting death.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to maintain eternal perspective by recognizing that all worldly achievements and pleasures are temporary illusions, while genuine success lies in righteous deeds that secure Paradise and protection from Hell. It encourages detachment from material pursuits and a conscious preparation for the inevitable meeting with Allah through virtuous living.