فَلَوْلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلْحُلْقُومَ 83
Translations
Then why, when it [i.e., the soul at death] reaches the throat
Transliteration
Falawlā idhā balaghati al-hulqūm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question: 'Why then, when the soul reaches the throat [at the point of death], do you not intervene?' The verse challenges human powerlessness in the face of death, emphasizing that when the soul departs the body during the death process, neither the dying person nor those around them can prevent or alter this inevitable divine decree. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a stark reminder of human limitation and divine sovereignty over life and death, meant to encourage reflection on the afterlife.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Waqi'ah, which focuses on the certainty of the Day of Judgment and the resurrection. The surah uses vivid imagery of death to awaken the disbelievers' consciences and prepare them for the inevitable reckoning. This particular verse is part of a section (verses 83-87) describing the moment of death to illustrate human helplessness before divine will.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'When the soul of the believer departs, angels come to it with shrouds and fragrant perfumes' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also related is the hadith about the soul being 'seized' at death, emphasizing the reality of death's inevitability (Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that death is inevitable and beyond human control, serving as a profound call to spiritual preparation and moral consciousness in this life. It encourages us to focus on righteous deeds and remembrance of Allah, knowing that our time in this world is limited and our final destiny rests entirely in God's hands.