سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 154
وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ لِمَن يُقْتَلُ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمْوَٰتٌۢ ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَآءٌ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَشْعُرُونَ ﴿154﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And say not of those who are killed in the Way of Allâh, "They are dead." Nay, they are living, but you perceive (it) not.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَقُولُوا۟
taqūlū
say
لِمَن
liman
for (the ones) who
يُقْتَلُ
yuq'talu
are slain
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
أَمْوَٰتٌۢ ۚ
amwātun
(They are) dead
بَلْ
bal
Nay
أَحْيَآءٌۭ
aḥyāon
(they are) alive
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
[and] but
لَّا
lā
you (do) not
تَشْعُرُونَ
tashʿurūna
perceive
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.
(Ayah 154) ➊ The greatest hardship in jihad is the loss of life; patience for this is enjoined in such a way that those who are killed in the way of Allah are not to be called dead, rather they are alive, but you do not understand this life. In Al-Imran (169), the comforts and luxuries of this life of the martyrs are mentioned. It is understood that this life is not worldly life, nor can we comprehend it. It is established from the Qur’an and Hadith that after death, every person attains life in Barzakh (the grave). (See Mu’min: 11, 46. Nuh: 25. Ibrahim: 27) However, the soul of the believer is in comfort and the soul of the disbeliever is in torment. According to the ahadith, a door to Paradise or Hell is opened for them right in the grave. This life is attained by the Prophets in the most perfect state, but to honor the martyrs, the Qur’an has specifically called them {’’ اَحْيَآءٌ‘‘}, so that no one may say that so-and-so was killed and thus deprived of the comforts and luxuries of life.
➋ {اَمْوَاتٌ:} is in the nominative because its subject {’’هُمْ‘‘} is omitted, similarly the subject of {’’ اَحْيَآءٌ‘‘} is also omitted. In Surah Al-Imran (169), { ”اَمْوَاتًا“ } is in the accusative because it is the object of {”وَ لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ“}.
➋ {اَمْوَاتٌ:} is in the nominative because its subject {’’هُمْ‘‘} is omitted, similarly the subject of {’’ اَحْيَآءٌ‘‘} is also omitted. In Surah Al-Imran (169), { ”اَمْوَاتًا“ } is in the accusative because it is the object of {”وَ لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ“}.
