وَسَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيًّا 15
Translations
And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive.
Transliteration
Wa salāmun 'alayhi yawma wulida wa yawma yamūtu wa yawma yub'athu hayya
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, referring to Prophet Isa (Jesus), affirms that peace and blessings from Allah are upon him at three pivotal moments: his birth, his death, and his resurrection. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a declaration of Isa's honor and protection by Allah, emphasizing his special status as one of the most important messengers, and indicating that he will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment like all creation. The triple affirmation highlights the continuity of divine mercy throughout his entire existence.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Maryam's account of the miraculous birth of Isa (Jesus) to Maryam (Mary), a virgin. The broader surah context establishes Isa's legitimacy as a messenger and refutes Christian and disbelieving Meccan claims about his nature. This specific ayah emphasizes his humanity while affirming his prophetic station—he is born, dies, and will be resurrected like other humans, yet blessed with divine peace.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said regarding those with the most difficult test: 'The Prophets were tested the most, then those closest to them in goodness' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Quran affirms Isa's death and resurrection in 19:33 where Isa himself says 'Peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I will die, and the day I will be resurrected alive.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Allah's mercy and peace encompass the most critical moments of human existence, and reminds believers that all messengers, despite their elevated status, are subject to the natural cycle of life and death—finding solace in knowing that the righteous and honored servants of Allah are protected by His salām (peace) throughout their journey.