Sura 21, al-Anbiyaa, Mecca 73
The Quranic text and Ali’s version
كُلُّ
نَفْسٍ
ذَائِقَةُ
الْمَوْتِ...
21:35. Every soul shall have a taste of death:
The soul does not die, but when it separates from the body at the death of the body, the soul gets a taste of death.
In our life of probation on this earth, our virtue and faith are tested by many things: some are tested by calamities, and some by the good things of this life. If we prove our true mettle, we pass our probation with success.
In any case all must return to Allah, and then will our life be appraised at its true value.
...وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً...
and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial:
...وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾
to Us must ye return.
Asad’s version
21:34
AND [remind those who deny thee, O Prophet, 42 that] never have We granted life everlasting to any mortal before thee: 43 but do they, perchance, hope that although thou must die, they will live forever? 44
21:35
Every human being is bound to taste death; and We test you [all] through the bad and the good [things of life] by way of trial: and unto Us you all must return. 45
(21:36} But [thus it is:] whenever they who are bent on denying the truth consider thee, 46 they make thee but a target of their mockery, [saying to one another,] "Is this the one who speaks [so contemptuously] of your gods?" 47 And yet, it is they themselves who, at [every] mention of the Most Gracious, are wont to deny
the truth ! 48
(21:37} Man is a creature of haste; 49 [but in time] I shall make obvious to you [the truth of] My messages: do not, then, ask Me to hasten [it] ! 50
[[ Asad’s notes -
40 See 16:15 and the corresponding note 1 1 .
41 See note 4 on the first sentence of 13:2, which seems to have a similar meaning.
42 This relates to the objection of the unbelievers, mentioned in verse 3 of this surah, that Muhammad is "but a mortal like yourselves", and connects also with verses 7-8, which stress that all of God's apostles were but mortal men (cf 3 : 144).
43 The obvious implication is, "and so We shall not grant it unto thee, either". Cf. 39:30 - "thou art bound to die".
44 Lit., "but if, then, thou shouldst die, will they live forever?" - implying an assumption on
their part that they would not be called to account on death and resurrection.
45 Lit., "you shall be brought back", i.e., for judgment.
46 Lit., "see thee" : but since this verb has here obviously an abstract meaning, relating to the
message propounded by the Prophet, it is best rendered as above.
47 Sc, "and dares to deny their reality although he is a mere mortal like ourselves?"
48 I.e., although they resent any aspersion cast on whatever things or forces they unthinkingly worship, they refuse to acknowledge God's planning will manifested in every aspect of His creation.
49 Lit, "is created out of haste" - i.e., he is by nature imbued with impatience: cf. last sentence of 17:11. In the present context this refers to man's impatience regarding things to come: in this case - as is obvious from the sequence - his hasty refusal to believe in God's coming judgment
50 Cf. 16:1 - "God's judgment is [bound to] come: do not; then, call for its speedy advent! " ]]