وَٱلَّذِى يُمِيتُنِى ثُمَّ يُحْيِينِ 81
Translations
And who will cause me to die and then bring me to life
Transliteration
Wa-alladhī yumeetu-nī thumma yuhyīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of Prophet Ibrahim's supplication where he affirms Allah's complete dominion over life and death. Ibrahim acknowledges that only Allah has the power to cause death and then resurrect, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty and the certainty of the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this represents Ibrahim's unwavering monotheistic conviction and serves as evidence against idolatry, as the polytheists' gods possess no such power.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which was revealed in Mecca and highlights the stories of various prophets as evidence of Allah's truth. Verses 26:77-89 contain Ibrahim's personal testimony of faith, where this ayah occurs as part of his declaration rejecting idolatry and affirming Allah's attributes. The context emphasizes that true faith requires recognizing Allah's sole authority over creation, life, and death.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'The slave has not uttered words more excellent than these: 'Subhanallah wa bihamdihi, subhanallah al-'adheem' (Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him, glory be to Allah the Great)' - emphasizing remembrance of Allah's greatness and power. Also relevant: the hadith on the five matters none knows except Allah (Surah Luqman 31:34), which includes knowledge of when death will come.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that true faith requires acknowledging Allah's absolute control over all aspects of existence, particularly life and death, and should inspire humility and reliance solely upon Him. In modern context, it encourages detachment from worldly anxieties by recognizing that our lifespan is predetermined and entirely in Allah's hands.
Related Ayahs
لَهُۥ مَقَالِيدُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. He extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is, of all things, Knowing.
ءَأَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً إِن يُرِدْنِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ بِضُرٍّ لَّا تُغْنِ عَنِّى شَفَـٰعَتُهُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يُنقِذُونِ
Should I take other than Him [false] deities [while], if the Most Merciful intends for me some adversity, their intercession will not avail me at all, nor can they save me?
أَلَآ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ
Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth. And those who invoke other than Allāh do not [actually] follow [His] "partners." They follow not except assumption, and they are not but misjudging.
وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ نُحْىِۦ وَنُمِيتُ وَنَحْنُ ٱلْوَٰرِثُونَ
And indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritor.