Surah al-Waqi`ah (The Occurrence) 56 : 85

Overview (Verses 81 - 87)

At the Moment of Death

The final passage in the surah speaks of the moment of death, which sends a shudder of fear into everyone. This is the moment when all argument stops, when a person stands at the end of one road and the beginning of another. It is a point of no return:

Would you look on this discourse with disdain? Do you make it your livelihood that you persistently deny it? When the soul [of a dying person] comes up to the throat while you are helplessly looking on We are closer to him than you, although you do not see Us. Why, if you think you are not to be judged, can you not restore that [ebbing life], if what you claim is true? (Verses 81-87)

Are you in doubt about what you are told concerning a second life, denying the truth of the Qur'an and what it tells you about the Day of Judgement, or the principles of faith it lays down for you? "Do you make it your livelihood that you persistently deny it?"(Verse 82) Your denial is all that you earn and save in this life for your second life. How miserable a livelihood! What will you do when your soul is in your throat, standing on a road that leads you to the unknown?

The surah paints this situation in an inspiring way, drawing all its aspects in quick touches: "When the soul [of a dying person] comes up to the throat while you are helplessly looking on We are closer to him than you, although you do not see Us." (Verses 83-85) We almost hear a rattling sound in the throat, see the features decline and sense the distress: "When the soul [of a dying person] comes up to the throat." We almost see the despair on the faces of those attending the dying person: "while you are helplessly looking on."

At this point, when the soul is no longer concerned with anything in this world; when it has put the whole earthly world behind it; when it is about to see a world totally unknown and for which it has no provisions other than its deeds in this life; when it sees a new world and cannot say anything about it; when it has separated from all around it who only see a dying body but who stand helpless, then human power and knowledge are at their end. At this point, people realize that they are absolutely helpless: they see nothing, know nothing and can do nothing. All power and knowledge belong to God alone, with no one able to cast any doubt about this truth: "We are closer to him than you, although you do not see Us." (Verse 85)

At this point God's majesty is clearly felt, and people experience a sense of awe resulting from His presence. He is no doubt present at all times, but the Qur'anic statement reawakens the feeling of this truth which people often overlook. Hence, the scene of death is overshadowed by feelings of God's majesty and awe, in addition to people's own helplessness.

The surah now puts forward a challenge that ends all argument: "Why if you think you are not to be judged, can you not restore that [ebbing life], if what you claim is true?" (Verses 86-87) If it is true that there will be no reckoning of deeds and no requital for them and you are free, with no accounting to make, then try, if you can, to restore this soul that has come up to the throat and put it back in place. Try, if you can, to prevent its march towards that reckoning while you helplessly look on.

Thus all excuses, arguments and disputes end. This truth is felt to be so weighty that no man can stand up to it, except through stubborn and baseless denial.