وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُمْ ۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرْذَلِ ٱلْعُمُرِ لِكَىْ لَا يَعْلَمَ بَعْدَ عِلْمٍ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ 70
Translations
And Allāh created you; then He will take you in death. And among you is he who is reversed to the most decrepit [old] age so that he will not know, after [having had] knowledge, a thing. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Competent.
Transliteration
Wa-Allahu khalaqakum thumma yatawaffakum wa-minkum man yuraddu ila ardhali al-umuri likay la ya'lama ba'da 'ilmin shay'an. Inna Allaha 'alimun qadirun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah creates humanity and will cause them to die, while some people are returned to the weakest stage of life (old age) in which they lose knowledge and understanding they previously possessed. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this describes the natural progression of human life and the divine wisdom in the cycles of creation, demonstrating Allah's complete knowledge and power over all affairs. Al-Qurtubi notes that the loss of faculties in extreme old age is a humbling reminder of human dependence on Allah's mercy.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nahl, a Meccan chapter that discusses the signs of Allah's creation and power. It appears within a section addressing the creation of humanity and the various stages of life, serving as a reminder to the Meccan disbelievers of Allah's absolute authority over life and death, and the reality of human weakness despite any worldly power.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who live long and do good deeds' (Tirmidhi), emphasizing virtue in old age. Also relevant is the hadith: 'May Allah curse the age of sixty,' understood as a prayer for Allah's mercy during times of weakness (Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that all stages of life, including old age and loss of capacity, are part of Allah's divine plan and serve as humbling reminders of our ultimate dependence on Him. We should treat the elderly with compassion and respect, recognizing that their vulnerability is a test and an opportunity to practice mercy, while also preparing ourselves spiritually for all stages of life.
Related Ayahs
وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَالَكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍ لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ بَـٰلِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ ٱلْأَنفُسِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And they carry your loads to a land you could not have reached except with difficulty to yourselves. Indeed, your Lord is Kind and Merciful.
وَإِذَا رَءَا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
And when those who wronged see the punishment, it will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.
وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۚ إِنَّمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And do not exchange the covenant of Allāh for a small price. Indeed, what is with Allāh is best for you, if only you could know.
۞ يَوْمَ تَأْتِى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ تُجَـٰدِلُ عَن نَّفْسِهَا وَتُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
On the Day when every soul will come disputing [i.e., pleading] for itself, and every soul will be fully compensated for what it did, and they will not be wronged [i.e., treated unjustly].