As-Saaffaat (Those drawn up in Ranks)

58. “Is it that we do not die,”

59. “Save our first death; and we shall not be chastised?”

60. “Verily this is the mighty triumph,”

61. “And for the like of this let the workers work.”

In the first two verses in the above, the Qur’an implicitly says that the believing person turns to his hellish friend and, as a blame, reminds this word to him, saying:

“Is it that we do not die,”

And that, except the first death in the world, there is not any death and life again after it, and there will not be any punishment.

The verse says:

“Save our first death; and we shall not be chastised?”

Now you may look and see that what a great mistake you made. After death, there is such a life and such reward, recompense, and retribution. Now all the facts have been made manifest for you, but alas, there is no way to return.

According to the commentator of these two holy verses, by the statement of the faithful person to his hellish friend, he reminds him his words upon the denial of Resurrection.

But some other commentators have mentioned another probable commentary on these two verses. It says that the talk of the man in Paradise with his hellish friend has finished and the people of Paradise speak again with each other.

One of them happily cries:

“Is it then that we do not die,” “Save our first death; and we shall not be chastised?”

Do we have an eternal life here and does this grace of Allah remains for ever and we will not be chastised?

These words, of course, are not said doubtfully, but they are expressed because of joy and happiness. Just like the person who, after a long time of expectation, gains a vast and comfortable house.

He surprisingly says:

“Is this mine? O’ Lord! What a blessing it is! Will it not be taken from me?”

However, in the next two verses, this debate finishes with an expressive, meaningful fall of feelings and is emphasized by kinds of emphasis.

It says:

“Verily this is the mighty triumph,”

What a triumph is greater than this that a person is given an eternal bounty and a permanent life that has kinds of Divine bounties? What can be considered better and more superior than this?

And, finally, by an expressive, awakening and short sentence, Allah, the Great, puts an end to this discussion:

“And for the like of this let the workers work.”

Some commentators have thought that the recent verse may also be said by the people of Paradise. But it seems very improbable, because on that Day there is no deed to be done.

And, in other words, on that Day there is not any program that by this sentence people may be encouraged to it, while the apparent of the verse shows that the aim is that, by mentioning this sentence, all the former verses can be concluded and people may be driven toward faith and action. Therefore, it is suitable that this word of Allah comes at the end of this discussion.