Overview

(Verses 26 - 30)

The Scene of Death

The scenes painted so far of the Day of Judgement and its great upheavals and divergent fates derive their effect from the truth they represent and the Qur'an's own powerful style, bringing them alive before us. The surah now comes closer and closer so as to present a scene of something that occurs all the time. Indeed, people encounter this most clearly at every moment in their lives. It is the scene of death that overtakes every living soul. No one can evade or escape death, which separates a person from his loved ones. Death moves along its course, uninterrupted by anything. It does not respond to an impassioned appeal, an outcry of grief, a fervent desire or a seizure of panic. It takes the most powerful giants as easily as it takes the weakest dwarfs, and overcomes tyrants in the same way as it overcomes the oppressed. Mankind have no way to prevent death, yet they do not consider the great power that deals it:

Yet when the departing soul comes up to the throat, when it is said Can any charmer [do something now]?' When he knows it is the final parting, and one leg will be joined with another, to your Lord he will on that day be driven. (Verses 26-30)

This is the scene of approaching death, presented to people by the Qur'an as if it is happening now It comes out from within the words, just like a picture conies out of a painter's brush.

"Yet when the departing soul comes up to the throat." (Verse 26) At this point the dying person is in his last throes, with distress all around. Those present look everywhere, trying to think of something or some means to save the one suffering this distress: "when it is said, Can any charmer [do something now]?" (Verse 27) Could a charm possibly be of any use? The suffering one is writhing with pain, "and one leg will be joined with another." (Verse 29) All means are of no use. The road ahead becomes clear; it is the road every living being will eventually have to walk: "To your Lord he will on that day be driven." (Verse 30) The scene almost moves in front of us and almost talks. Every verse draws a movement, and the image of approaching death is clearly visible spreading impassioned feelings of loss and panic, before facing the bitter, hard truth no one can escape from. The inevitable end then clearly appears: "To your Lord he will on that day be driven." (Verse 30) The curtains are drawn over this distressing scene, leaving a distinct image in our eyes, prominent feelings in our hearts and a clear sense of grimness in the air.