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
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
And if Allāh were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon it [i.e., the earth] any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].
قَدْ مَكَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنْيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَىٰهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Those before them had already plotted, but Allāh came at [i.e., uprooted] their building from the foundations, so the roof fell upon them from above them, and the punishment came to them from where they did not perceive.
لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ كَـٰذِبِينَ
[It is] so He will make clear to them [the truth of] that wherein they differ and so those who have disbelieved may know that they were liars.
فَكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ حَلَـٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
Then eat of what Allāh has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And be grateful for the favor of Allāh, if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.