Yet they say: "When we are turned to bones and bits, shall we be raised as a new creation?"
And they say, “When we have become bones and decomposed, will we really be raised up anew?”
They say, 'What, when we are bones and broken bits, shall we really be raised up again in a new creation?'
And [thus, too,] they say, "After we will have become bones and dust, shall we, forsooth, be raised from the dead in a new act of creation?"
And they say: when we shall have become bones and fragments, shall we in sooth be raised as a new creation?
And they say: "When we are bones and fragments (destroyed), should we really be resurrected (to be) a new creation?"
And they say, “When we have become bones and fragments, shall we really be resurrected as a new creation?”
They say: "When we are turned to bones and particles (of dust), shall we truly be raised up as a new creation?"
And they say: "When we are bones and fragments (destroyed), should we really be resurrected (to be) a new creation"
And they say: When we are bones and fragments, shall we forsooth, be raised up as a new creation?
They say, ‘What, when we have become bones and dust, shall we really be raised in a new creation?’
'What' they say. 'When we are (turned to) bones and broken bits, shall we be raised again in a new creation'
And they say, "When we are bones and crumbled particles, will we [truly] be resurrected as a new creation?"
The pagans say, "When we become mere bones and dust, shall we then be brought back to life again?"
And they say: What! when we shall have become bones and decayed particles, shall we then certainly be raised up, being a new creation?
Waq<u>a</u>loo ai<u>tha</u> kunn<u>a</u> AAi<i><u>th</u></i><u>a</u>man waruf<u>a</u>tan ainn<u>a</u> lamabAAoothoona khalqan jadeed<u>a</u><b>n</b>
"What!" they say, "When we are turned to bones and dust, shall we be restored to life?"
They say: "What! when we are reduced to bones and dust, should we really be raised up (to be) a new creation?"
وَقَالُوٓا۟ أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَٰمًا وَرُفَٰتًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا
The idolaters said in denial of resurrection: When we die and become bones and our bodies decompose, will we be resurrected again? This is impossible.
The idolaters said in denial of resurrection: When we die and become bones and our bodies decompose, will we be resurrected again? This is impossible.
<h2 class="title">Refutation of Those Who do not believe in Life after Death</h2><p>Allah tells us about the disbelievers who think it very unlikely that the Resurrection will happen and who say, in a tone of denial,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَـماً وَرُفَـتاً</div><p>(When we are bones and fragments.) meaning earth. This was the view of Mujahid. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that it means dust.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقاً جَدِيداً</div><p>(should we really be resurrected (to be) a new creation) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection after we have disintegrated and become nothing, and have been forgotten. Allah tells us about them elsewhere:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">يَقُولُونَ أَءِنَّا لَمَرْدُودُونَ فِى الْحَـفِرَةِ - أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَـماً نَّخِرَةً - قَالُواْ تِلْكَ إِذاً كَرَّةٌ خَـسِرَةٌ </div><p>(They say: "Shall we indeed be returned to (our) former state of life Even after we are crumbled bones" They say: "It would in that case, be a return with loss!") (79:10-12). And,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلاً وَنَسِىَ خَلْقَهُ</div><p>(And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation.) until the end of two Ayat. (36:78-79) Allah commands His Messenger to respond to them, so He says:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">قُلْ كُونُواْ حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيداً </div><p>(Say (O Muhammad): "Be you stones or iron,") - which are more difficult to restore than bones and fragments,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">أَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِى صُدُورِكُمْ</div><p>(Or some created thing that is yet greater (or harder) in your breasts.) Ibn Ishaq narrated from Ibn Abi Najih from Mujahid: "I asked Ibn `Abbas about that, and he said: `This is death."' `Atiyah reported that Ibn `Umar explained of this Ayah: "If you were dead I would still resurrect you." This was also the view of Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Salih, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and others. This means that if you were to assume that you would become dead, which is the opposite of living, Allah will resurrect you when He wills, for nothing can stop Him when He wills a thing.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">أَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِى صُدُورِكُمْ</div><p>(Or some created thing that is yet greater (or harder) in your breasts.) Mujahid said: "This means the heavens, earth and mountains." According to another report, "Whatever you want to be, go ahead, Allah will still resurrect you after you die."</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَن يُعِيدُنَا</div><p>(Then, they will say: "Who shall bring us back (to life)") meaning, who will resurrect us if we are stones or iron or some other strong created thing</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">قُلِ الَّذِى فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ</div><p>(Say: "He Who created you first!") meaning, He Who created you when you were nothing, then you became human beings, walking about. He is able to create you anew, no matter what you have become.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ</div><p>(And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it; and this is easier for Him.) 30:27</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">فَسَيُنْغِضُونَ إِلَيْكَ رُؤُوسَهُمْ</div><p>(Then, they will shake their heads at you) Ibn `Abbas and Qatadah said, "They will move their heads in a gesture of mockery." This view expressed by Ibn `Abbas and Qatadah is what the Arabs understand from the language, because the word used Fasayunghidun indicates an up-and-down movement Nughad. A word derived from the same root, Naghd, is used to refer to the young of the ostrich, because when it walks, it walks quickly and moves its head. The same word is used to describe a tooth when it becomes loose and is detached from its place.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هُوَ</div><p>(and say: "When will that be") This shows that they thought it very unlikely that it would happen, as Allah says:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَـذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ </div><p>(And they say: "When will this promise (i.e. Resurrection) be fulfilled, if you are truthful") (36:48)</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا</div><p>(Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it the Hour) 42:18</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">قُلْ عَسَى أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا</div><p>(Say: "Perhaps it is near!") meaning, beware of it, for it is at hand and will no doubt come to you, and what will be will be.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">يَوْمَ يَدْعُوكُمْ</div><p>(On the Day when He will call you,) meaning the Lord, may He be blessed and exalted:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ دَعْوَةً مِّنَ الاٌّرْضِ إِذَآ أَنتُمْ تَخْرُجُونَ</div><p>(When He will call you by a single call, behold, you will come out from the earth) 30:25 meaning, when He commands you to come out from the earth, for nothing can oppose Him or prevent His command from being fulfilled. Rather, it is as He says:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَمَآ أَمْرُنَآ إِلاَّ وَحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍ بِالْبَصَرِ </div><p>(And Our commandment is but one as the twinkling of an eye) (54:50)</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدْنَاهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ </div><p>(Verily, Our Word unto a thing when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: "Be!" - and it is) (16:40)</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">فَإِنَّمَا هِىَ زَجْرَةٌ وَحِدَةٌ - فَإِذَا هُم بِالسَّاهِرَةِ </div><p>(But it will be only a single Zajrah. When behold, they find themselves (on the surface of the earth) alive (after their death).) (79:13-14), meaning, it will be just one definitive command, then the people will have come out from the inside of the earth to its surface, as Allah says:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">يَوْمَ يَدْعُوكُمْ فَتَسْتَجِيبُونَ بِحَمْدِهِ</div><p>(On the Day when He will call you, and you will answer with (words of) His praise) meaning, you will all rise up in response to His command and in obedience to His will.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَتَظُنُّونَ</div><p>(and you will think) means, on the Day when you rise up from your graves,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ</div><p>(that you have stayed) in this earthly abode,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً</div><p>(but a little while.) This is like the Ayah:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُواْ إِلاَّ عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَـهَا </div><p>(The Day they see it, (it will be) as if they had not tarried (in this world) except an afternoon or a morning.) (79:46). Allah says:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِى الصُّورِ وَنَحْشُرُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمِئِذٍ زُرْقاً - يَتَخَـفَتُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلاَّ عَشْراً - نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ إِذْ يَقُولُ أَمْثَلُهُمْ طَرِيقَةً إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلاَّ يَوْماً </div><p>(The Day when the Trumpet will be blown: that Day, We shall gather the blue or blind-eyed with thirst. They will speak in a very low voice to each other (saying): "You stayed not longer than ten (days)." We know very well what they will say, when the best among them in knowledge and wisdom will say: "You stayed no longer than a day!") (20:102-104).</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يُقْسِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ مَا لَبِثُواْ غَيْرَ سَاعَةٍ كَذَلِكَ كَانُواْ يُؤْفَكُونَ </div><p>(And on the Day that the Hour will be established, they will swear that they stayed not but an hour - thus were they ever deluded.) (30:55)</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">قَـلَ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ عَدَدَ سِنِينَ - قَالُواْ لَبِثْنَا يَوْماً أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ فَاسْأَلِ الْعَآدِّينَ - قَالَ إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً لَّوْ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ </div><p>(He will say: "What number of years did you stay on earth" They will say: "We stayed a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep account." He will say: "You stayed not but a little, if you had only known!") (23:112-114).</p>
Refutation of Those Who do not believe in Life after DeathAllah tells us about the disbelievers who think it very unlikely that the Resurrection will happen and who say, in a tone of denial,أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَـماً وَرُفَـتاً(When we are bones and fragments.) meaning earth. This was the view of Mujahid. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that it means dust.أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقاً جَدِيداً(should we really be resurrected (to be) a new creation) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection after we have disintegrated and become nothing, and have been forgotten. Allah tells us about them elsewhere:يَقُولُونَ أَءِنَّا لَمَرْدُودُونَ فِى الْحَـفِرَةِ - أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَـماً نَّخِرَةً - قَالُواْ تِلْكَ إِذاً كَرَّةٌ خَـسِرَةٌ (They say: "Shall we indeed be returned to (our) former state of life Even after we are crumbled bones" They say: "It would in that case, be a return with loss!") (79:10-12). And,وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلاً وَنَسِىَ خَلْقَهُ(And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation.) until the end of two Ayat. (36:78-79) Allah commands His Messenger to respond to them, so He says:قُلْ كُونُواْ حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيداً (Say (O Muhammad): "Be you stones or iron,") - which are more difficult to restore than bones and fragments,أَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِى صُدُورِكُمْ(Or some created thing that is yet greater (or harder) in your breasts.) Ibn Ishaq narrated from Ibn Abi Najih from Mujahid: "I asked Ibn `Abbas about that, and he said: `This is death."' `Atiyah reported that Ibn `Umar explained of this Ayah: "If you were dead I would still resurrect you." This was also the view of Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Salih, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and others. This means that if you were to assume that you would become dead, which is the opposite of living, Allah will resurrect you when He wills, for nothing can stop Him when He wills a thing.أَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِى صُدُورِكُمْ(Or some created thing that is yet greater (or harder) in your breasts.) Mujahid said: "This means the heavens, earth and mountains." According to another report, "Whatever you want to be, go ahead, Allah will still resurrect you after you die."فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَن يُعِيدُنَا(Then, they will say: "Who shall bring us back (to life)") meaning, who will resurrect us if we are stones or iron or some other strong created thingقُلِ الَّذِى فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ(Say: "He Who created you first!") meaning, He Who created you when you were nothing, then you became human beings, walking about. He is able to create you anew, no matter what you have become.وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ(And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it; and this is easier for Him.) 30:27فَسَيُنْغِضُونَ إِلَيْكَ رُؤُوسَهُمْ(Then, they will shake their heads at you) Ibn `Abbas and Qatadah said, "They will move their heads in a gesture of mockery." This view expressed by Ibn `Abbas and Qatadah is what the Arabs understand from the language, because the word used Fasayunghidun indicates an up-and-down movement Nughad. A word derived from the same root, Naghd, is used to refer to the young of the ostrich, because when it walks, it walks quickly and moves its head. The same word is used to describe a tooth when it becomes loose and is detached from its place.وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هُوَ(and say: "When will that be") This shows that they thought it very unlikely that it would happen, as Allah says:وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَـذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ (And they say: "When will this promise (i.e. Resurrection) be fulfilled, if you are truthful") (36:48)يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا(Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it the Hour) 42:18قُلْ عَسَى أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا(Say: "Perhaps it is near!") meaning, beware of it, for it is at hand and will no doubt come to you, and what will be will be.يَوْمَ يَدْعُوكُمْ(On the Day when He will call you,) meaning the Lord, may He be blessed and exalted:إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ دَعْوَةً مِّنَ الاٌّرْضِ إِذَآ أَنتُمْ تَخْرُجُونَ(When He will call you by a single call, behold, you will come out from the earth) 30:25 meaning, when He commands you to come out from the earth, for nothing can oppose Him or prevent His command from being fulfilled. Rather, it is as He says:وَمَآ أَمْرُنَآ إِلاَّ وَحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍ بِالْبَصَرِ (And Our commandment is but one as the twinkling of an eye) (54:50)إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدْنَاهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ (Verily, Our Word unto a thing when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: "Be!" - and it is) (16:40)فَإِنَّمَا هِىَ زَجْرَةٌ وَحِدَةٌ - فَإِذَا هُم بِالسَّاهِرَةِ (But it will be only a single Zajrah. When behold, they find themselves (on the surface of the earth) alive (after their death).) (79:13-14), meaning, it will be just one definitive command, then the people will have come out from the inside of the earth to its surface, as Allah says:يَوْمَ يَدْعُوكُمْ فَتَسْتَجِيبُونَ بِحَمْدِهِ(On the Day when He will call you, and you will answer with (words of) His praise) meaning, you will all rise up in response to His command and in obedience to His will.وَتَظُنُّونَ(and you will think) means, on the Day when you rise up from your graves,إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ(that you have stayed) in this earthly abode,إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً(but a little while.) This is like the Ayah:كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُواْ إِلاَّ عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَـهَا (The Day they see it, (it will be) as if they had not tarried (in this world) except an afternoon or a morning.) (79:46). Allah says:يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِى الصُّورِ وَنَحْشُرُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمِئِذٍ زُرْقاً - يَتَخَـفَتُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلاَّ عَشْراً - نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ إِذْ يَقُولُ أَمْثَلُهُمْ طَرِيقَةً إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلاَّ يَوْماً (The Day when the Trumpet will be blown: that Day, We shall gather the blue or blind-eyed with thirst. They will speak in a very low voice to each other (saying): "You stayed not longer than ten (days)." We know very well what they will say, when the best among them in knowledge and wisdom will say: "You stayed no longer than a day!") (20:102-104).وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يُقْسِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ مَا لَبِثُواْ غَيْرَ سَاعَةٍ كَذَلِكَ كَانُواْ يُؤْفَكُونَ (And on the Day that the Hour will be established, they will swear that they stayed not but an hour - thus were they ever deluded.) (30:55)قَـلَ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ عَدَدَ سِنِينَ - قَالُواْ لَبِثْنَا يَوْماً أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ فَاسْأَلِ الْعَآدِّينَ - قَالَ إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً لَّوْ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (He will say: "What number of years did you stay on earth" They will say: "We stayed a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep account." He will say: "You stayed not but a little, if you had only known!") (23:112-114).