وَمَن نُّعَمِّرْهُ نُنَكِّسْهُ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ ۖ أَفَلَا يَعْقِلُونَ 68
Translations
And he to whom We grant long life We reverse in creation; so will they not understand?
Transliteration
Wa man nu'ammirhu nunakkishu fi al-khalq, afa-la ya'qilun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the physical decline and reversal of faculties that occur with advanced old age—a person's strength diminishes, their memory weakens, and their body deteriorates in reverse order of its development. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as Allah's wisdom in the natural cycle of human life, emphasizing that those who witness such aging should reflect upon Divine power and use their intellect to recognize their Creator's majesty and plan for the afterlife.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Ya-Sin's broader theme of resurrection and the signs of Allah's power. The surah addresses the Meccan disbelievers' denial of the Hereafter, and this particular verse uses the observable phenomenon of aging as evidence that Allah has complete control over creation, making the resurrection equally plausible to those with sound reasoning.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those with the best manners' (Sahih Bukhari), and regarding old age, he supplicated: 'O Allah, grant me love for You and love for those who love You' (Tirmidhi), emphasizing reverence for the life stages Allah ordains. Additionally, the hadith about respecting elders relates thematically to recognizing the dignity of those whom Allah has extended life.
Themes
Key Lesson
Witnessing the natural process of aging in ourselves and others should awaken our consciousness of Allah's absolute power and serve as a reminder of our mortality, encouraging us to live purposefully, show compassion to the elderly, and prepare for the eternal life to come.