Death in Quran (4) story of man’s existence

In one short verse, the Noble Quran analyses the whole story of man’s existence on this earth. It begins, by the will of Allah, with a state of death and ends with death, after which Allah will restore life again, and the ultimate return thereafter shall be to Him from whom life originated.

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How do you, disbelieve in Allah, in which state are you veiled from Him, when…

When you were dead, and He gave life to you

Why do you not see the proof of the Creator in His creation?

Then He will give you death after your term of life is completed and your lifespan ends,

Then He shall give life to you again, at the Resurrection, and then unto Him you will be returned! Whereupon He shall requite you according to your deeds

How can ye reject the faith in Allah?

The mysteries of life and death are in Allah’s hands.

When you die on this earth that is not the end.  You were of Him, and you must return to Him.  

Look around you and realize your own dignity; it is from Him.  

Giving Life after Death

The verse 2:28 addresses all humankind, denouncing their disbelief in Allah who gives life and takes it away,

“How can you reject Allah who has given you life after you were dead? He will cause you to die again then He will bring you back to life. To Him you shall return.

Denial or rejection of Allah after seeing all these manifest signs is certainly despicable and utterly unjustifiable. The Quran here faces humankind directly with facts they cannot deny or question. It refers to their life and the phases of human existence.

Allah brought man out of a state of death and gave him life. This transformation is a fact that cannot be ignored or denied, and can only be explained by acknowledging the creative power of Allah.

Life is not an illusion, but how has it come about?

Who has initiated this unique phenomenon we call life, which distinguishes the living from the dead in this world?

Life represents an extraordinary dimension that is the complete antithesis of death, but where does it originate?

Humankind has to face this question and answer it in a way that will satisfy man’s curiosity and put his heart and mind at rest. It is simply not enough to dismiss it or attribute life to anything other than a creative power that is itself very different from creation.

The immediate answer to this question is that life comes from Allah. Let those who dispute this come up with another answer.

The verse questions man’s denial of, and disbelief in, Allah “who has given you life after you were dead”.

How impertinent of man to reject Allah, the origin and the cause of life. It affirms that Allah “will cause you to die again”, a fact that is beyond dispute and of which we are constantly reminded.

It adds that “Allah will bring you back to life’’, which has been, and still is today, a matter for endless argument and debate. Yet, if people would only reflect on how man came to be in the first instance, there would be no reason for bewilderment or rejection of life after death.

“And to Him you shall return.” As it was from Him you have come, to Him you shall return, in total fulfilment of His will and purpose.

Thus, in one short verse, the whole book of life is opened and. closed. The whole story of man’s existence on this earth is reviewed. It begins, by the will of Allah, with a state of death and ends with death, after which Allah will restore life again, and the ultimate return thereafter shall be to Him from whom life originated. In this brief picture, we can visualize Allah’s awesome power and appreciate its deep impact on our hearts and minds.

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The verses 2:28 in different translations:

QARIB:

How can you disbelieve Allah? Did he not give you life when you were dead, and he will cause you to die and then restore you to life? Then you will return to him.

SHAKIR:

How do you deny Allah and you were dead and he gave you life? Again, he will cause you to die and again bring you to life, then you shall be brought back to him

PICKTHAL:

How disbelieve ye in Allah when ye were dead and he gave life to you! Then he will give you death, then life again, and then unto him ye will return.

YUSUFALI:

How can ye reject the faith in Allah?- seeing that ye were without life, and he gave you life; then will he cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to him will ye return.

Atheists in Quran (29) they mocked Noah

Allah commanded Noah: Build the ark and Noah did.

While building the ark, group after group of the insolent Atheists men pass by and scoff at Noah and his followers. Noah said to them, though you mock us today, yet we mock you tomorrow, because Allah will save us and will drown you.

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In the previous article, Allah told Noah:

“None of your people will believe apart from those who have already accepted the faith.”

Those who are susceptible to faith have already accepted it. The others are hopeless.

Therefore, it is over and the unbelievers are done.

Allah commanded Noah: Build the ark

The verses 11:37-39 disclose the story of building the Ark and tell us what happened during building it, the verses say:

Build the Ark under Our watch, protection and inspiration and by Our command

We will look after you and give you instructions as you do so.

Start the construction of the ship under Our care and by Our command.

[Then, we have to watch this Allah’ strong order]

Do not address Me concerning the unbelievers who have done evil, by asking that I should refrain from destroying them

Do not plead with Me on behalf of those unbelievers about saving them.

The Atheists’ destiny has been decided and you are not to plead their case.

You can neither pray for them to be guided to the truth, nor can you pray for their punishment.

Prayers are to no avail when Allah’s will comes to pass.

Verily, they will be drowned by the flood.

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Noah and his followers were building the Ark

Every time that chieftain of a notable council, a group, of his people passed him, they scoffed at him

Whenever a group, of his people passed him, they made mock of him, they derided him for so doing.

They told Noah’s followers that they are following an insane.

Noah builds the ark and group after group of his insolent people pass by and scoff at him. They scoff at the man who said he was a messenger from Allah and argued long with them, but who now busies himself making a boat. They mock him because they can only see what appears to them.

Noah said unto them:

The same you scoff at us is the same we scoff at you.

Though you make mock of us today, yet we mock at you tomorrow.

Because we are saved, while you drown.

Noah, on the other hand, is full of confidence as he tells them that their mockery will rebound. We will scoff at you because you cannot visualize that Allah has a definite purpose beyond all this, and you cannot imagine what awaits you.

Will this apply to us or to you when everything will be revealed?

You shall know to whom will come a punishment that will confound, humiliate and destroy him

You shall know upon whom an everlasting chastisement will fall and will be enjoined upon in the Hereafter.

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The verses 11: 37-39 in different translations:

QARIB:

37- Build the ark with our seeing (and protection), and as we reveal. do not speak to me concerning the evildoers; they shall be drowned. ‘

38- Whenever an assembly of his nation passed by him as he was building the ark, they mocked him. whereupon he said: ‘if you mock us, we shall indeed mock you, just as you mock.

39- You shall know to whom a degrading punishment will come, and upon whom an everlasting punishment will fall. ‘

SHAKIR:

37- And make the ark before our eyes and (according to) our revelation, and do not speak to me in respect of those who are unjust; surely they shall be drowned

38- And he began to make the ark; and whenever the chiefs from among his people passed by him they laughed at him. he said: if you laugh at us, surely we too laugh at you as you laugh (at us)

39- So shall you know who it is on whom will come a chastisement which will disgrace him, and on whom will lasting chastisement come down

PICKTHAL:

37- Build the ship under our eyes and by our inspiration, and speak not unto me on behalf of those who do wrong. lo! they will be drowned.

38- And he was building the ship, and every time that chieftains of his people passed him, they made mock of him. he said: though ye make mock of us, yet we mock at you even as ye mock;

39- And ye shall know to whom a punishment that will confound him cometh, and upon whom a lasting doom will fall.

YUSUFALI:

37- “But construct an ark under our eyes and our inspiration, and address me no (further) on behalf of those who are in sin: for they are about to be overwhelmed (in the flood).”

38- Forthwith he (starts) constructing the ark: every time that the chiefs of his people passed by him, they threw ridicule on him. he said: “if ye ridicule us now, we (in our turn) can look down on you with ridicule likewise!

39- “But soon will ye know who it is on whom will descend a penalty that will cover them with shame,- on whom will be unloosed a penalty lasting:”