سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 28
كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَٰتًا فَأَحْيَـٰكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿28﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
How can you disbelieve in Allâh? seeing that you were dead and He gave you life. Then He will give you death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection) and then unto Him you will return (See V.40:11)
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
كَيْفَ
kayfa
How
تَكْفُرُونَ
takfurūna
(can) you disbelieve
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
وَكُنتُمْ
wakuntum
While you were
أَمْوَٰتًۭا
amwātan
dead
فَأَحْيَـٰكُمْ ۖ
fa-aḥyākum
then He gave you life
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
يُمِيتُكُمْ
yumītukum
He will cause you to die
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
يُحْيِيكُمْ
yuḥ'yīkum
He will give you life
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
إِلَيْهِ
ilayhi
to Him
تُرْجَعُونَ
tur'jaʿūna
you will be returned
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
28. (O people!) How can you disbelieve in Allah, when you were lifeless and He gave you life? Then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you back to life [36], and then to Him you will be returned.
[36]
The Four Stages of Life and Death:
In this verse, four states that befall a human are mentioned: first death, then life, then death, then life. The union of soul and body is called life, and their separation is called death. The first state is death, meaning that the souls of all humans had already been created, but bodies were granted at their appointed times; during this period, the Covenant of Alast was taken. The second state is from a person's birth until his death, during which he has the choice to perform good or bad deeds. The third state is from death until resurrection, and the fourth and final state is the endless life after being resurrected (Hashr). It should be remembered that even in those states described as death, there remains some trace of life. However, since the dominant effects are those of death, they are referred to as death. For the Covenant of Alast was taken during the first death, and in the second death, a person faces the punishment of the grave, and in this world, this state is explained through sleep. Because in the state of sleep, most of the effects of death are dominant over a person. Nevertheless, in the world of dreams, he walks, eats, drinks, and does various things, and in hadith, sleep or dreaming is called the sister of death, not of life. Also, this supplication has been taught at the time of sleeping: «اللهم باسمك أموت وأحييٰ». Furthermore, from the clear statements of the Quran, it is also evident that death is not a negative thing but a positive one. In fact, Allah Almighty created death first and life afterwards, as is stated by Allah the Exalted:
﴿ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيٰوةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ اَيُّكُمْ اَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً﴾ [2: 67]
"It is He who created death and life so that He may test you as to which of you is best in deeds." And in the verse under study, the attention of man is drawn to the fact that the Being who has such vast power over your very existence—how can you deny Him?
[36]
The Four Stages of Life and Death:
In this verse, four states that befall a human are mentioned: first death, then life, then death, then life. The union of soul and body is called life, and their separation is called death. The first state is death, meaning that the souls of all humans had already been created, but bodies were granted at their appointed times; during this period, the Covenant of Alast was taken. The second state is from a person's birth until his death, during which he has the choice to perform good or bad deeds. The third state is from death until resurrection, and the fourth and final state is the endless life after being resurrected (Hashr). It should be remembered that even in those states described as death, there remains some trace of life. However, since the dominant effects are those of death, they are referred to as death. For the Covenant of Alast was taken during the first death, and in the second death, a person faces the punishment of the grave, and in this world, this state is explained through sleep. Because in the state of sleep, most of the effects of death are dominant over a person. Nevertheless, in the world of dreams, he walks, eats, drinks, and does various things, and in hadith, sleep or dreaming is called the sister of death, not of life. Also, this supplication has been taught at the time of sleeping: «اللهم باسمك أموت وأحييٰ». Furthermore, from the clear statements of the Quran, it is also evident that death is not a negative thing but a positive one. In fact, Allah Almighty created death first and life afterwards, as is stated by Allah the Exalted:
﴿ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيٰوةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ اَيُّكُمْ اَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً﴾ [2: 67]
"It is He who created death and life so that He may test you as to which of you is best in deeds." And in the verse under study, the attention of man is drawn to the fact that the Being who has such vast power over your very existence—how can you deny Him?
