سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 21
أَمْوَٰتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَآءٍ ۖ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
(They are) dead, not alive; and they know not when they will be raised up.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَمْوَٰتٌ
amwātun
(They are) dead
غَيْرُ
ghayru
not alive
أَحْيَآءٍۢ ۖ
aḥyāin
not alive
وَمَا
wamā
And not
يَشْعُرُونَ
yashʿurūna
they perceive
أَيَّانَ
ayyāna
when
يُبْعَثُونَ
yub'ʿathūna
they will be resurrected
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah21) ➊ {اَمْوَاتٌ غَيْرُ اَحْيَآءٍ:} The second attribute is that they are dead, not alive. In this verse, {’’ اَمْوَاتٌ ‘‘} refers to those (righteous or wicked) dead people whom the polytheists used to worship, because Allah Almighty said: «{ وَ مَا يَشْعُرُوْنَ اَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُوْنَ }» "And they do not perceive when they will be resurrected." The phrase "perceive when they will be resurrected" does not apply to inanimate objects (idols and graves), but rather applies only to rational beings—humans, jinn, and angels. Then Allah Almighty did not suffice with just saying "dead," but also said: «{ غَيْرُ اَحْيَآءٍ }» "They are not alive." This is a clear refutation of the grave-worshippers who say that the righteous predecessors buried in graves are not dead but alive, and that they call upon the living. From this statement of Allah Almighty, it is proven that after death, no one is granted worldly life, nor does any connection with the world remain, so how can any benefit or harm be expected from them?
➋ { وَ مَا يَشْعُرُوْنَ اَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُوْنَ :} This is the third attribute: that they do not even know the time of their resurrection. From this verse, it is understood that it is necessary for a deity to know the Day of Resurrection. (Ruh al-Ma'ani) And the fact that when the dead will be resurrected is known to none except Allah. See Surah Al-A'raf (187).
➋ { وَ مَا يَشْعُرُوْنَ اَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُوْنَ :} This is the third attribute: that they do not even know the time of their resurrection. From this verse, it is understood that it is necessary for a deity to know the Day of Resurrection. (Ruh al-Ma'ani) And the fact that when the dead will be resurrected is known to none except Allah. See Surah Al-A'raf (187).
