Tafsir & Commentary
The Most High (الأعلى) · Meccan
ثُمَّ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ13
87:13
Translation — Sahih International
Neither dying therein nor living.
Transliteration
Thumma lā yamūtu fīhā wa lā yahyā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the state of the people in Hell, emphasizing their eternal punishment where they experience neither death (which would end their suffering) nor life (in the sense of comfort or ease). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this verse highlights the unique torment of the Hellfire—inhabitants are kept alive to experience unending punishment, yet are unable to find relief through death, creating a state of perpetual anguish that is neither life nor death in the conventional sense.
Revelation Context (Asbab al-Nuzul)
Surah Al-A'la is a Meccan surah focused on glorifying Allah's majesty and warning of the final judgment. This particular ayah appears in the context of describing the destined fate of the wretched (al-ashqā) who reject Allah's guidance, serving as a deterrent for disbelievers and a reminder of the grave consequences of rejecting faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported in Sahih Muslim to have said regarding the inmates of Hell: 'They will neither die so as to feel relief through death, nor will they live in ease.' This directly echoes the meaning of this ayah.
Themes
Key Lessons
This ayah serves as a profound warning that the consequences of rejecting Allah's message are not merely temporary but eternal and irreversible. It encourages believers to reflect on accountability and to seek refuge in Allah's mercy through obedience and sincere repentance.