Surah 21:34
Show Full Scripture Context (21:34-35) — 2 Verses
وَمَا جَعَلۡنَا لِبَشَرٖ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ ٱلۡخُلۡدَۖ أَفَإِيْن مِّتَّ فَهُمُ ٱلۡخَٰلِدُونَ
We have not granted immortality to any human being before you. If you die, will they live forever?
كُلُّ نَفۡسٖ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِۗ وَنَبۡلُوكُم بِٱلشَّرِّ وَٱلۡخَيۡرِ فِتۡنَةٗۖ وَإِلَيۡنَا تُرۡجَعُونَ
Every person will taste death. We try you with evil and good as a test, and to Us you will be returned.
{And We granted not to any human being immortality before you;} means, O Muhammad.
{immortality} means, in this world. On the contrary,
{then if you die} means, O Muhammad,
{would they live forever?} means, they hope that they will live forever after you, but that will not happen; everything will pass away. So Allah says:
"and We shall test you with evil and with good by way of trial."
Meaning, “We shall test you, sometimes with difficulties and sometimes with ease, to see who will give thanks and who will be ungrateful, who will have patience and who will despair.” ‘Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn ‘Abbas:
{and We shall test you} means, We will test you,
{with evil and with good by way of trial.} means, with difficulties and with times of prosperity, with health and sickness, with richness and poverty, with lawful and unlawful, obedience and sin, with guidance and misguidance.
{And to Us you will be returned.} means, and We will requite you according to your deeds.