وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُمْ ۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرْذَلِ ٱلْعُمُرِ لِكَىْ لَا يَعْلَمَ بَعْدَ عِلْمٍ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ 70
Translations
And Allāh created you; then He will take you in death. And among you is he who is reversed to the most decrepit [old] age so that he will not know, after [having had] knowledge, a thing. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Competent.
Transliteration
Wa-Allahu khalaqakum thumma yatawaffakum wa-minkum man yuraddu ila ardhali al-umuri likay la ya'lama ba'da 'ilmin shay'an. Inna Allaha 'alimun qadirun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah creates humanity and will cause them to die, while some people are returned to the weakest stage of life (old age) in which they lose knowledge and understanding they previously possessed. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this describes the natural progression of human life and the divine wisdom in the cycles of creation, demonstrating Allah's complete knowledge and power over all affairs. Al-Qurtubi notes that the loss of faculties in extreme old age is a humbling reminder of human dependence on Allah's mercy.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nahl, a Meccan chapter that discusses the signs of Allah's creation and power. It appears within a section addressing the creation of humanity and the various stages of life, serving as a reminder to the Meccan disbelievers of Allah's absolute authority over life and death, and the reality of human weakness despite any worldly power.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who live long and do good deeds' (Tirmidhi), emphasizing virtue in old age. Also relevant is the hadith: 'May Allah curse the age of sixty,' understood as a prayer for Allah's mercy during times of weakness (Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that all stages of life, including old age and loss of capacity, are part of Allah's divine plan and serve as humbling reminders of our ultimate dependence on Him. We should treat the elderly with compassion and respect, recognizing that their vulnerability is a test and an opportunity to practice mercy, while also preparing ourselves spiritually for all stages of life.
Related Ayahs
فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ
So when you recite the Qur’ān, [first] seek refuge in Allāh from Satan, the expelled [from His mercy].
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّتِى نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَهَا مِنۢ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ أَنكَـٰثًا تَتَّخِذُونَ أَيْمَـٰنَكُمْ دَخَلًۢا بَيْنَكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ أُمَّةٌ هِىَ أَرْبَىٰ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَبْلُوكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ ۚ وَلَيُبَيِّنَنَّ لَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong [by] taking your oaths as [means of] deceit between you because one community is more plentiful [in number or wealth] than another community. Allāh only tries you thereby. And He will surely make clear to you on the Day of Resurrection that over which you used to differ.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُم مَّاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ ۙ قَالُوٓا۟ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
And when it is said to them, "What has your Lord sent down?" they say, "Legends of the former peoples,"
ثُمَّ إِذَا كَشَفَ ٱلضُّرَّ عَنكُمْ إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنكُم بِرَبِّهِمْ يُشْرِكُونَ
Then when He removes the adversity from you, at once a party of you associates others with their Lord