Death is a general law

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The Reality of DeathIntroduction

The 1st verse speaks about the generality of death. This is the ultimate fate of all humans, living being as well as inanimate objects. It is said, “everyone shall taste death.’

This declaration has come thrice in the Qura’n (1) and its repetition is the proof of its finality. It is a warning for all mankind that they should not remain ignorant about this final outcome. After saying that it is the gateway to the world of eternal well being it says:

And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full.”

This tells us about this world being a place of actions and deeds and not where one will be judged but the hereafter is the venue for accounting of deeds and not deeds themselves. Though there is a scope of reward and punishment in purgatory but it is certain that the complete reward and punishment will be only in the hereafter.

There is a possibility of saying that the above explanation may be telling us that the Day of Judgment is the only way of man’s salvation if his deeds are pure or else wealth and pomp, stature and children, clans and groups will be of no help as described in verses 88 and 89 of Surah Shuaraa.

“The Day when neither sons nor wealth will be of any help except him who brings to God a clean heart.”

The first interpretation seems more appropriate and many a commentator has agreed to it. It is clear that a person may doubt many things but he will never doubt death. All those who exist in the heavens and on earth will die. All things living will enter the throat of death. Death is the final outcome of every one without exception which cannot be delayed even by a second. These people pray for the eternal lives of their leaders but it is a whim because what thing can be eternal when all the Apostles of God have passed this way without exception.

What we learn from this verse is firstly is:

 That the soul of the person does not die with him because it is said that every soul will taste death and tasting denotes that the soul will survive and sees death. Secondly the soul is something other than the body because it survives even after the body’s death. Hadith tells us that when verse 26 of Surah Rahman was revealed which says, “All that exists on earth will be destroyed” it means the decree has been passed for their death.

Sand when it was decreed: “every soul must taste death” the angels said, “the decree of our death has been passed too.” (2)

Though it is true that the word “Nafs” is sometimes used for God as in verse 116 of Surah Maidah when Jesus addressed God as:

“You know whatever is in my conscience”

But it is also clear that “Every soul” in the verse refers to the ones that have been created and not God the creator.

 


 

1. Al Imran verse 185, Anbiya 35 and Ankabut 57
2. Tafsir Kabeer vol.9 page 125

 

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