Derived from the scholarly lectures of Nokounam Session 1189
The exegesis of verse sixty of Surah Al-Imran serves as a gateway to a profound understanding of monotheism, the boundless knowledge of God, and the absolute sovereignty of the Lord over existence. This verse, articulated with profound depth, speaks directly of Gods immediate role in the taking of souls, His awareness of the deeds of His servants, and His divine protection over creatures. The present writing, grounded in erudite discourses and mystical reflections, elucidates this verse within a coherent framework, employing a clear and solemn language. The objective is to reveal the truth of divine unity and human responsibility towards the Creator, as if every breath is a journey towards the Beloved and every deed a dialogue with Him. Structured systematically with semantic coherence, this treatise invites the reader to contemplate the majesty of God and to reconsider their relationship with the Lord.
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُمْ بِالنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَىٰ أَجَلٌ مُسَمًّى ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And He it is Who takes your souls by night, and He knows what you have earned by day; then He raises you up therein so that a term appointed may be fulfilled. Then to Him is your return; then He will inform you of what you used to do.
The exegesis of verse sixty of Surah Al-Imran begins with reference to the preceding verse, which states:
وَعِنْدَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ (Al-Imran: 59)
And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. This verse establishes the foundation of the discussion on divine taking by affirming God's absolute knowledge and power, as if the keys of existence rest in His hands and every phenomenon is inscribed under His infinite will. This linkage situates verse sixty within a monotheistic context where God exercises direct sovereignty over all matters.
Some interpretations have restricted the phrase يَتَوَفَّاكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ (He takes your souls by night) to the notion of sleep, whereas this taking refers to the moment-by-moment death. It is as though every inhale and exhale involves a divine taking and returning of the soul, such that God seizes and restores the soul continuously. This interpretation aligns with the verse
اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنْفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا (Az-Zumar: 42)
God takes the souls at the time of their death, which presents divine taking as exceeding mere sleep, signifying death in its broader sense. This view perceives life as a fluid current wholly dependent on divine will at every moment.
The universe is neither fixed nor static; at every moment, creatures acquire new determinations, as if God creates anew constantly. This perpetual transformation aligns with the verse
كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ (Ar-Rahman: 29)
Every day He is in a new affair. God seizes creatures moment by moment and, by His will, reconstructs existence, as though the cosmos flows like a river refreshed with new water at each instant.
The phrase وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُمْ بِالنَّهَارِ indicates God's awareness of all human actions during the day, whether good or evil, minor or major. The term جَرَحْتُمْ means earned or acquired deeds, encompassing daily transactions and virtuous or sinful acts. This knowledge corresponds with the verse
وَمَا تَكُونُ فِي شَأْنٍ وَمَا تَتْلُو مِنْهُ (Yunus: 61)
And you are not engaged in any matter, nor do you recite any of it, without Us being witness thereof. Every human deed is as a gem inscribed in the divine ledger.
The expression ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ signifies that God resurrects humans daily to complete their fixed lifespan. This corresponds with the verse
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ (Al-Araf: 34)
And every nation has a term appointed. Life is portrayed as a journey, each step determined by divine will.
The verse states:
وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ
And He is the Subduer over His servants, emphasising Gods absolute and unchallengeable dominion over all creaturesfrom humans and animals to stones and clay. This sovereignty is confirmed by the verse
لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ (Al-Hadid: 2)
His is the dominion of the heavens and the earth. God is like a king whose throne shadows the entire cosmos.
Gods servants are not only the righteous; all creatures, including humans, animals, stones, and clay, are His servants. This inclusivity aligns with the verse
وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إ
