إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ 59
Translations
Except for our first death, and we will not be punished?"
Transliteration
Illa mawtatana al-ula wa ma nahnu bi-mu'aththabin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah represents the argument of the deniers of the Resurrection who claim they will not be punished, saying 'except for our first death, and we will not be punished.' They acknowledge only one death (the natural death in this life) and reject the concept of accountability in the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as the arrogant rejection of divine judgment, wherein the disbelievers deny both resurrection and the punishment that follows it, a core theme of Meccan revelation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the broader Meccan context of Surah As-Saffat, which addresses the fundamental belief in the Day of Judgment and resurrection. The surah refutes the arguments of those who deny these core Islamic beliefs, presenting their false reasoning and then systematically dismantling their claims through Quranic proofs.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (2949) where the Prophet ﷺ describes the Day of Judgment and states: 'The people will be raised barefoot, unclothed, and uncircumcised.' This reinforces the certainty of resurrection that this ayah's deniers reject. Additionally, Surah Al-Insan (76:27) deals with accountability after death, thematically related to this ayah's context.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers against adopting the materialist worldview that denies life after death and divine accountability; it reminds us that belief in the Hereafter is foundational to Islamic faith and should motivate us toward righteous conduct in this life.