Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 70

(Ayah70) ➊ {وَ اللّٰهُ خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَفّٰىكُمْ…:} After mentioning the signs of Allah’s power in rain and its effects, cattle and the milk obtained from them, dates and grapes and the things derived from them, and the amazing performance of the honeybee, now a few of the signs found within man himself are mentioned. In this verse, four or five stages of human life are mentioned. First is birth, along with which death is mentioned; the remaining stages are mentioned later, because after birth, it is not necessary for every person to pass through all those stages. Death sometimes occurs in the womb itself, sometimes at another stage of life. Some people are returned to the most feeble age, in which a person becomes as weak as in childhood. His helplessness is such that his senses are taken away, and whatever he had learned or experienced in life, he forgets all of it. He becomes dependent on others for everything. The stages between childhood and the most feeble age are not mentioned, because they are self-evident. Childhood, adolescence, youth, reaching the peak of strength, middle age, old age, and finally the most feeble age. If Allah wills, He can turn any of these stages into the most feeble age. For further explanation of this verse, see Surah Ar-Rum (54) and Surah Ya-Sin (68).

➋ { ثُمَّ يَتَوَفّٰىكُمْ:} Here, after birth, death is also mentioned as a sign and a blessing. As a sign, it is for both believers and disbelievers, but as a blessing, it is only for the believer, no matter at which stage of life he dies, because there is no way to be saved from the most feeble age except through it, and at whatever stage of life one dies, there is no way out of the prison except through it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ اَلدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَجَنَّةُ الْكَافِرِ ] [ مسلم، الزھد والرقائق، باب الدنیا سجن للمؤمن وجنۃ للکافر : ۲۹۵۶، عن أبي ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ] “The world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.” Then how can there be any doubt that death is a blessing.

➌ Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Seek refuge with these words with which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to seek refuge: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أُرَدَّ إِلٰی أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ ] [ بخاری، الدعوات، باب الاستعاذۃ من أرذل العمر… : ۶۳۷۴ ] ‘O Allah! I seek refuge in You from cowardice, and I seek refuge in You from miserliness, and I seek refuge in You from being returned to the most feeble age, and I seek refuge in You from the trials of the world and the punishment of the grave.’”

➍ {اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِيْمٌ قَدِيْرٌ :} All these stages of life and death—no one can create them except with perfect knowledge and power, and that being is only Allah, the Exalted.

➎ Some scholars have said that practicing scholars are protected from the most feeble age; even if their age is advanced, their intellect and memory remain intact. This is indicated by some interpretations of this verse: «{ ثُمَّ رَدَدْنٰهُ اَسْفَلَ سٰفِلِيْنَ (5) اِلَّا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ }» [ التین : ۵، ۶ ] “Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low, except those who believe and do righteous deeds.” Shanqiti (may Allah have mercy on him) and many hadith scholars, despite being over a hundred years old, retained their intellect and memory.