كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ 57
Translations
Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned.
Transliteration
Kullu nafsin dha'iqatu al-mawt, thumma ilayna turja'un
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms the universal certainty of death—every soul shall taste death—followed by return to Allah for judgment and accountability. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse serves as a profound reminder of human mortality and the inescapability of the Day of Judgment, refuting any delusion of immortality or escape from divine reckoning.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-'Ankabut, a Meccan chapter addressing the early Muslim community facing persecution. The verse is thematically situated within the surah's broader message of trial, patience, and certainty in Allah's promise, reminding believers that worldly afflictions are temporary since death is the ultimate certainty all humans must face.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Remember frequently the destroyer of pleasures,' referring to death (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Whoever remembers death frequently will be granted four things: quick repentance, contentment with little, detachment from worldly desires, and vigor in worship' (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to contemplate mortality as a means of spiritual purification and motivation toward righteous action, emphasizing that remembrance of death and the afterlife naturally inclines the heart toward obedience and away from worldly temptations. It democratizes the human condition—regardless of status, wealth, or power, all souls will taste death and stand before Allah.
Related Ayahs
يَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِٱلْعَذَابِ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌۢ بِٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
They urge you to hasten the punishment. And indeed, Hell will be encompassing of the disbelievers
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ ۖ وَمِنْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا يَجْحَدُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ إِلَّا ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
And thus We have sent down to you the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān]. And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture believe in it. And among these [people of Makkah] are those who believe in it. And none reject Our verses except the disbelievers.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَنُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And those who believe and do righteous deeds - We will surely admit them among the righteous [into Paradise].
أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?