وَمَا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَحْيَآءُ وَلَا ٱلْأَمْوَٰتُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُسْمِعُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُسْمِعٍ مَّن فِى ٱلْقُبُورِ 22
Translations
And not equal are the living and the dead. Indeed, Allāh causes to hear whom He wills, but you cannot make hear those in the graves.
Transliteration
Wa mā yastawī al-aḥyāʾu wa lā al-amwāt. Inna Allāha yasmaʿu man yashāʾ wa mā anta bimusmiʿin man fī al-qubūr.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that the living and the dead are not equal, emphasizing that Allah hears whom He wills while the Prophet cannot make those in graves hear. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this refers to the spiritual deafness of those who reject faith—they are like the dead in their inability to perceive divine guidance, whereas the living believers can receive and act upon it. The ayah also addresses the futility of calling upon the dead or seeking their intercession, as they possess no capacity to hear or respond.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Fatir's broader theme of divine power and the contrast between believers and disbelievers. It was likely revealed to address the pre-Islamic Arab practice of invoking the dead and seeking their help, affirming that only Allah possesses the power to grant hearing and guidance. The surah emphasizes Allah's absolute sovereignty over creation and the impossibility of partnership with Him.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: ongoing charity, knowledge from which people benefit, and a righteous child who prays for him' (Sahih Muslim 1631). This complements the ayah by clarifying the limited nature of the dead's agency and the importance of the living's continued spiritual connection to the deceased through prayer.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true life is in spiritual awareness and receptiveness to divine guidance, while rejection of faith constitutes a form of death regardless of physical existence. Believers should recognize that only Allah can grant understanding and guidance, and should place their reliance exclusively upon Him rather than seeking help from the dead or other created beings.