In Islamic belief, death marks the moment when the soul departs from the physical body, signaling the start of the afterlife. There are numerous Verses Of The Quran About Death and Islamic scholars have engaged in extensive discussions and interpretations about the process, offering valuable insights into the nature of mortality and the soul’s journey beyond.
Verses Of The Quran About Death
These verses highlight various aspects of death in Islam, including the inevitability of death, the soul’s return to Allah, and the reckoning that will take place on the Day of Judgment.
Here are some verses from the Quran that relate to death:
Verse #1
كَيۡفَ تَكۡفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَكُنتُمۡ أَمۡوَٰتًا فَأَحۡيَٰكُمۡۖ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيكُمۡ ثُمَّ إِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ
How can you disbelieve in Allah when you were lifeless and He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you [back] to life, and then to Him you will be returned.
Surah Baqarah verse 28
Allah affirms His existence and sovereignty, emphasizing His role as the Creator and Sustainer with absolute authority over His servants.
He questions how one can deny His existence, considering that He brought them into being from a state of non-existence, granting them life.
He will eventually take away that life, only to revive them again on the Day of Resurrection, ultimately returning them to Himself.
This is a clear indication of His power and authority. As stated in Surah Tur (35-36), “Were they created by nothing? Or did they create themselves? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, but they have no firm belief.”
Similarly, in Surah Insan (1), it is said, “Has there not been over man a period of time when he was not a thing worth mentioning?”
Ibn Abbas, as reported by Ibn Jarir, interpreted the phrase “Seeing that you were dead and He gave you life” to mean that before Allah created them, they did not exist; He will bring death and then revive them during Resurrection, highlighting His absolute control over life and death.
Verse #2
كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ إِن تَرَكَ خَيۡرًا ٱلۡوَصِيَّةُ لِلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۖ حَقًّا عَلَى ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ
Prescribed for you when death approaches [any] one of you if he leaves wealth [is that he should make] a bequest for the parents and near relatives according to what is acceptable – a duty upon the righteous.
Surah Baqarah verse 180
Verse #3
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفۡسٍ أَن تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِ كِتَٰبًا مُّؤَجَّلًاۗ وَمَن يُرِدۡ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا نُؤۡتِهِۦ مِنۡهَا وَمَن يُرِدۡ ثَوَابَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ نُؤۡتِهِۦ مِنۡهَاۚ وَسَنَجۡزِى ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ
And it is not [possible] for one to die except by permission of Allah at a decree determined. And whoever desires the reward of this world – We will give him thereof; and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter – We will give him thereof. And We will reward the grateful.
Surah Al Imran verse 145
No one can die except by Allah’s decree and at a predetermined time. This means that death only occurs when Allah wills it, after a person has fulfilled their allotted lifespan.
This is reinforced by the verse, “And no aged man is granted a length of life nor is a part cut off from his life, but it is in a Book” (Surah Fatir, 11).
This verse encourages people to participate in battle, as it highlights that their lifespan is predetermined and cannot be shortened or extended by their actions.
Allah promises that those who seek a reward in this life will receive it, but they will have no share in the Hereafter.
Conversely, those who strive for a reward in the Hereafter will receive it, along with whatever Allah decrees for them in this life.
Furthermore, Allah rewards the grateful with His favor and mercy in both this life and the Hereafter, in proportion to their appreciation and good deeds.
READ ALSO: All Verses Of Quran About Taqwa in Arabic With English Translation
Verse #4
كُلُّ نَفۡسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوۡنَ أُجُورَكُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِۖ فَمَن زُحۡزِحَ عَنِ ٱلنَّارِ وَأُدۡخِلَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ فَقَدۡ فَازَۗ وَمَا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَآ إِلَّا مَتَٰعُ ٱلۡغُرُورِ
Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.
Surah Al Imran verse 185
This verse offers solace to all creation, as every soul on earth will eventually succumb to death.
When the cycle of life comes to a close, and the descendants of Adam no longer procreate, signaling the end of the world, Allah will ordain the commencement of the Day of Resurrection.
On that day, Allah will reckon with creation, rewarding or punishing them for their actions, no matter how insignificant or significant, numerous or few, great or small.
Rest assured, Allah will not wrong anyone, even to the slightest extent, for He is absolutely just and will settle accounts with precision, down to the weight of an atom.”
Verse #5
أَيۡنَمَا تَكُونُواْ يُدۡرِككُّمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ وَلَوۡ كُنتُمۡ فِى بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍۗ وَإِن تُصِبۡهُمۡ حَسَنَةٌ يَقُولُواْ هَٰذِهِۦ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِۖ وَإِن تُصِبۡهُمۡ سَيِّئَةٌ يَقُولُواْ هَٰذِهِۦ مِنۡ عِندِكَۚ قُلۡ كُلٌّ مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِۖ فَمَالِ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفۡقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction. But if good comes to them, they say, “This is from Allah”; and if evil befalls them, they say, “This is from you.” Say, “All [things] are from Allah.” So what is [the matter] with those people that they can hardly understand any statement?
Surah Nisa verse 78
Death will inevitably catch up with you, no matter where you are, and no one can escape its grasp.
Every soul will experience death, and no amount of bravery or valor, including participating in jihad, can prevent it.
Each person has a predetermined lifespan, and their time will come. Khalid bin Al-Walid, a renowned warrior, reflected on his many battles and injuries, yet ultimately succumbed to death in his bed, highlighting the inevitability of fate.
Allah’s statement emphasizes that even the strongest fortifications and highest towers cannot protect anyone from death’s reach.
No amount of caution or fortification can delay the appointed time, and death will find everyone, no matter how secure their stronghold may seem.
Verse #6
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ لَمَيِّتُونَ
Then indeed, after that you are to die.
Surah Mu’munoon Verses 15
After that, surely you will die. Means, after first being created from nothing, you will eventually die.
Verse #7
كُلُّ نَفۡسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيۡنَا تُرۡجَعُونَ
Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned.
Surah Ankabut verse 57
No matter where you are, death will eventually find you, so submit to Allah’s will and be where He has ordained you to be, for this is what is best for you.
Death is an inevitability that cannot be avoided, and ultimately, you will return to Allah.
Those who obey Him with sincerity will receive the greatest reward, so embrace His commands and trust in His plan, for it is the key to eternal bliss.”
Verse #8
إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُم مَّيِّتُونَ
Verily, you will die, and verily, they (too) will die.
Surah Zumar verse 30
This verse was cited by Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, upon the passing of the Prophet Muhammad, to remind the people that death is a reality and that everyone will ultimately stand before Allah in the Hereafter.
The verse emphasizes that all will be gathered to settle the disputes of this world, particularly those related to the oneness of Allah (Tawhid) and polytheism (Shirk).
Allah, the All-Knowing and Just Judge, will adjudicate these disputes with truth, rewarding the sincere believers who worship Him alone and punishing those who deny His Oneness and associate others with Him.
While this verse specifically addresses believers and disbelievers, its message extends to all who engage in disputes in this world, as they will ultimately face the consequences of their actions in the Hereafter.
Verse #9
قُلۡ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوٓاْ إِن زَعَمۡتُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءُ لِلَّهِ مِن دُونِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُاْ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ
Say, “O you who are Jews, if you claim that you are allies of Allah, excluding the [other] people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful.”
Surah Jumu’ah verse 6
In other words, ‘if you assert that you are on the right path and that Muhammad and his Companions have gone astray, then call upon Allah to take the life of the misguided party among us, if you are sincere in your claim.’
This is a challenge to put your faith to the test, to prove which side is truly guided and which is led astray.”
Verse #10
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلًاۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed – and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving.
Surah Mulk verse 2
Some individuals use this verse as evidence to support their belief that death is a created entity, as it is depicted as something that has been brought into existence.
However, the verse actually signifies that Allah created the universe from nothingness to test His creatures, evaluating which of them will excel in righteous deeds.
In this context, Allah refers to the initial state of non-existence as “death” and the commencement of existence as “life.”
The phrase “which of you is best in deed” is meant to signify excellence in deeds, highlighting the importance of righteous actions in the sight of Allah.
Verse #11
وَجَآءَتۡ سَكۡرَةُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنۡهُ تَحِيدُ
And the intoxication of death will bring the truth; that is what you were trying to avoid.
Surah Qaf verse 19
Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored, declares, ‘O humanity! The inevitability of death has arrived, and I have brought forth the truth that you were disputing.
This is the end that you attempted to evade, but it has finally caught up with you!’ This verse signifies that the certainty of death has arrived, and you will no longer have any refuge, shelter, or sanctuary to escape it.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, uttered words of glorification to Allah as he approached death, acknowledging its overwhelming power.
The verse ‘This is what you have been avoiding!’ can be interpreted in two ways: firstly, that the unavoidable end has finally arrived at your doorstep, or secondly, that you had no means of escaping or evading this inevitable fate.
Verse #12
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم بِٱلَّيۡلِ وَيَعۡلَمُ مَا جَرَحۡتُم بِٱلنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبۡعَثُكُمۡ فِيهِ لِيُقۡضَىٰٓ أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّىۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيۡهِ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ (60) وَهُوَ ٱلۡقَاهِرُ فَوۡقَ عِبَادِهِۦۖ وَيُرۡسِلُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ تَوَفَّتۡهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمۡ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ (61)
And it is He who takes your souls by night and knows what you have committed by day. Then He revives you therein [i.e., by day] that a specified term may be fulfilled. Then to Him will be your return; then He will inform you about what you used to do.
He is the Irresistible, (Supreme) over His slaves, and He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one’s good and bad deeds) over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our Messengers (angel of death and his assistants) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty.
Surah An’am verse 60-61
Allah’s statement, ‘until when death approaches one of you…’ refers to the moment when one’s life span comes to an end and they are in the process of dying.
At that point, Our messengers, meaning the angels tasked with this responsibility, take the person’s soul.
According to Ibn Abbas and other scholars, the Angel of Death has assistants who help extract the soul from the body, and once it reaches the throat, the Angel of Death himself takes possession of it.
Allah assures that these angels never neglect their duty, carefully guarding the soul of the deceased and transporting it to its final destination, either to Illiyyin, a realm for the righteous, or to Sijjin, a realm for the wicked, such as disbelievers and sinners. We seek refuge in Allah from such a fate.
Verse #13
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ شَهَٰدَةُ بَيۡنِكُمۡ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ حِينَ ٱلۡوَصِيَّةِ ٱثۡنَانِ ذَوَا عَدۡلٍ مِّنكُمۡ أَوۡ ءَاخَرَانِ مِنۡ غَيۡرِكُمۡ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ ضَرَبۡتُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَأَصَٰبَتۡكُم مُّصِيبَةُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِۚ تَحۡبِسُونَهُمَا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَيُقۡسِمَانِ بِٱللَّهِ إِنِ ٱرۡتَبۡتُمۡ لَا نَشۡتَرِى بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰۙ وَلَا نَكۡتُمُ شَهَٰدَةَ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّمِنَ ٱلۡأٓثِمِينَ.
O you who believe! When death approaches any of you, and you make a bequest, (then take) the testimony of two just men of your own folk or two others from outside, while you are travelling through the land and death befalls on you.
Detain them both after As-Salât (the prayer), (then) if you are in doubt (about their truthfulness), let them both swear by Allâh (saying): “We wish not for any worldly gain in this, even though he (the beneficiary) be our near relative. We shall not hide Testimony of Allâh, for then indeed we should be of the sinful.
Surah Ma’idah verse 106