هُوَ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ 56
Translations
He gives life and causes death, and to Him you will be returned.
Transliteration
Huwa yuhyi wa yumeetu wa ilayhi turja'un
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute sovereignty over life and death—He alone grants life and causes death, and to Him alone all creation will ultimately return. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a fundamental principle of tawhid (monotheism), demonstrating that no power in the universe can rival Allah's dominion over existence itself. Al-Tabari notes this serves as both a reminder of human dependence on the Divine and a warning against attributing creative power to anyone other than Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Yunus, a Meccan chapter that addresses the polytheists of Mecca who attributed partners to Allah and denied the Hereafter. The broader context of this surah emphasizes monotheism and resurrection, with this particular ayah serving as a direct refutation of shirk (associating partners with Allah) by highlighting His exclusive control over life, death, and the final return.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah' (Sahih Bukhari 2654). Additionally, the Quranic principle is reinforced in the hadith: 'No one dies except by Allah's permission at a term appointed' (Sunan Ibn Majah 4258, thematically related).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that all control over life and death belongs exclusively to Allah, encouraging humility, reliance on Him alone, and consciousness of the inevitable return to Him for judgment. It serves as a powerful antidote to human arrogance and misplaced trust in created beings.