The Holy Quran 39:42 — Surah Az-Zumar

Arabic text

ٱللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى ٱلْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَٱلَّتِى لَمْ تَمُتْ فِى مَنَامِهَا ۖ فَيُمْسِكُ ٱلَّتِى قَضَىٰ عَلَيْهَا ٱلْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Translation

Allaah raises (draws) the souls (of people) at the time of their death (when the time of their death arrives), and (Allaah also raises the souls of) those (people) who do not die (who are not due to die) during their sleep (causing them to be oblivious of everything around them as they sleep). (Therefore, when people sleep,) Allaah then withholds the soul upon which death has been decreed (so that the soul does not return to the body), and releases (sends back the souls of) others (allowing them to return to their bodies so that they may continue living) until their appointed term (until the time when they are due to die). There are certainly Aayaat (signs) in this for people who think (which demonstrates to them that Allaah has complete control over His creation).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The reality of death and sleep: Shah [Abd al-Qadir] ﵀ writes: that is, in sleep He draws out the soul every day and then sends it (back). This is the very sign of the Hereafter. It is thus known that in sleep too the soul is drawn out, just as in death. If, having been drawn out in sleep, it remains [there], that is death.

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