THE OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD VERSE OF THE HOLY QUR'AN

Al-Qur'an, Surah Aal-E-Imran Chapter 3 verse 169

نوُقَزْرُي ْمِهِّبَر َدْنِع ٌءاَيْحَأ ْلَب اًتاَوْمَأ ِهَّللا ِليِبَس ِفي اوُلِتُق َنيِذَّلا ََّﺒﻦَسْحَت لاَو

Wa Lā Taĥsabanna Al-Ladhīna Qutilū Fī Sabīli Allāhi 'Amwātāan Bal 'Aĥ?yā'un `Inda Rabbihim Yurzaqūna

"Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord"

Anyone who reads this verse of the Holy Qur'an, without knowing the reason behind the revelation of this verse and the hadith explaining it, will ultimately come to the conclusion that the Martyrs are very much alive in this world, they are not dead.

The same message is repeated in the Holy Qur'an Surah Al-Baqara Chapter 2 verse 154:

وَلا تَقُولُوا لِمَنْ يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ وَلَكِنْ لا تَشْعُرُونَ

Wa Lā Taqūlū Liman Yuqtalu Fī Sabīli Allāhi 'Amwātun Bal 'Aĥyā'un Wa Lakin Lā Tash`urūna

"And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah: "They are dead." Nay, they are living, though ye perceive (it) not"

There is nothing wrong with this verse, nor with the conclusion drawn, except one thing. The martyrs are living and finding their sustenance in the presence of Allah(SWT), but NOT in this world. They are alive in Paradise. The misunderstood concept which almost many Muslims have, is that, they are living and alive in this world.To understand this we need to know, the reason behind the revelation of this verse and the hadith explaining it.

What was the reason behind the revelation of this verse?

If we carefully analyze the context of the verse which starts from verse 166, we find that Allah(SWT), was narrating about the reason behind the defeat of the Muslims in the battle of Uhud. When, the hypocrites, the so called Muslims were told to fight in the way of Allah(SWT) they lied that they knew not how to fight (Qur'an 3:167).More over, while sitting at ease, they where commenting on those who went forward to fight in Allah's way. They were taunting them saying that, had they listened to them, they would not have been slain (Qur'an 3:168). Seeing this unbelief, Allah (swt) rebukes such hypocrites, the so called Muslims, by saying that “Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth.” (Qur'an 3:168). Then Allah (swt) rebukingly tells them that,"Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead..."(Qur'an 3:169).

Authentic Hadith explaining this verse.

The sahabaas (companions of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) also had the same doubt about this verse.

Abu Dawud : (Kitab Al-Jihad): Book 14 : Hadith 2514

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: When your brethren were smitten at the battle of Uhud, Allah put their spirits in the crops of green birds which go down to the rivers of Paradise, eat its fruit and nestle in lamps of gold in the shade of the Throne. Then when they experienced the sweetness of their food, drink and rest, they asked: Who will tell our brethren about us that we are alive in Paradise provided with provision, in order that they might not be disinterested in jihad and recoil in war? Allah Most High said: I shall tell them about you; so Allah sent down; "And do not consider those who have been killed in Allah's path..."

Sahih Muslim : (Kitab Al-Imara): Book 20 : Hadith 4651

It has been narrated on the authority of Masruq Who said: We asked 'Abdullah about the Qur'anic verse:" Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead..." (iii. 169). He said: We asked the meaning of the verse (from the Holy Prophet) who said: The souls, of the martyrs live in the bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers hung from the throne of the Almighty. They eat the fruits of Paradise from wherever they like and then nestle in these chandeliers. Once their Lord cast a glance at them and said: Do ye want anything? They said: What more shall we desire? We eat the fruit of Paradise from wherever we like. Their Lord asked them the same question thrice. When they saw that they will continue to be asked and not left (without answering the question). they said: O Lord, we wish that Thou mayest return our souls to our bodies so that we may be slain in Thy way once again. When He (Allah) saw that they had no need, they were left (to their joy in heaven).

Thus we find that to rebuke the hypocrites and to inspire the believers to fight in Allah's way & in order that they might not be disinterested in Jihad, Allah revealed this verse.

"Every soul is living. Soul of no human beings die, it just tastes death.(Qur'an 3:185,21:35,29:57). A martyr's soul is living in Paradise, provided with provision, while a normal human soul is alive, but in a suspended state known in Arabic as the Barzakh."

The Martyrs i.e the believer's who are slain in Allah's way are no more a part of this world i.e; they are dead in this world. They are alive & living in Paradise. Their world is different from ours so they cannot hear us, nor can they talk, nor can they walk, nor can they hold anything of this world. They have no contact with this world, because there is a barrier between this life and the next. "...it will be too late because there will be a barrier between them and the world they have just left till the Day they are raised to life again.(Qur'an 23:99-100 ) and Nor are alike those that are living and those that are dead. Allah can make any that He wills to hear; but thou canst not make those to hear who are (buried) in graves.(Qur'an 35:22)

Read the Qur'an with understanding. Don't just believe what the imaams say or what others say.

"Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best (meaning) in it: those are the ones whom Allah has guided, and those are the ones endued with understanding." (Qur'an 39:18)

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