سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 34
وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ ٱلْخُلْدَ ۖ أَفَإِي۟ن مِّتَّ فَهُمُ ٱلْخَـٰلِدُونَ ﴿34﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We granted not to any human being immortality before you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): then if you die, would they live forever?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
جَعَلْنَا
jaʿalnā
We made
لِبَشَرٍۢ
libasharin
for any man
مِّن
min
before you
قَبْلِكَ
qablika
before you
ٱلْخُلْدَ ۖ
l-khul'da
[the] immortality
أَفَإِي۟ن
afa-in
so if
مِّتَّ
mitta
you die
فَهُمُ
fahumu
then (would) they
ٱلْخَـٰلِدُونَ
l-khālidūna
live forever
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.
34. (O Prophet) We did not grant everlasting life to any human before you; so if you die, will they then live forever [32]?
[32]
The Migration to Abyssinia and the Distress of the Disbelievers:
When, distressed by the oppression and tyranny of the disbelievers of Makkah, about 80 Muslims migrated towards Abyssinia, there was an uproar in all the houses of the Quraysh of Makkah. For hardly any household remained whose son or daughter had not migrated. These people never considered their own acts of torment, but they certainly believed that the only cause of the ruin of their homes was this person (Muhammad ﷺ). Therefore, they thought that if this person were to die, their homes could flourish again. Then they would even pray for your death. In this verse, those very people are being addressed and told that death is destined for everyone. All people before have passed away, and this Prophet too will die at his appointed time. But tell us, can you escape death? It will surely come to you as well, and who knows, perhaps most of you will die even before him.
[32]
The Migration to Abyssinia and the Distress of the Disbelievers:
When, distressed by the oppression and tyranny of the disbelievers of Makkah, about 80 Muslims migrated towards Abyssinia, there was an uproar in all the houses of the Quraysh of Makkah. For hardly any household remained whose son or daughter had not migrated. These people never considered their own acts of torment, but they certainly believed that the only cause of the ruin of their homes was this person (Muhammad ﷺ). Therefore, they thought that if this person were to die, their homes could flourish again. Then they would even pray for your death. In this verse, those very people are being addressed and told that death is destined for everyone. All people before have passed away, and this Prophet too will die at his appointed time. But tell us, can you escape death? It will surely come to you as well, and who knows, perhaps most of you will die even before him.
