Tafheem ul Quran

Surah 23 Al-Mu'minun, Ayat 99-100

حَتّٰٓى اِذَا جَآءَ اَحَدَهُمُ الۡمَوۡتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارۡجِعُوۡنِۙ‏ ﴿23:99﴾ لَعَلِّىۡۤ اَعۡمَلُ صَالِحًـا فِيۡمَا تَرَكۡتُ​ؕ كَلَّا​ ؕ اِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَآئِلُهَا​ؕ وَمِنۡ وَّرَآئِهِمۡ بَرۡزَخٌ اِلٰى يَوۡمِ يُبۡعَثُوۡنَ‏ ﴿23:100﴾

(23:99) (They shall persist in their deeds) until when death comes to anyone of them he will say: "My Lord, send me back to the world89 (23:100) that I have left behind. I am likely to do good."90 Nay,91 it is merely a word that he is uttering.92 There is a barrier behind all of them (who are dead) until the Day93 when they will be raised up.


Notes

89. In the original text plural number has been used for Allah, which may be for reverence, or may include the angels as well, who will be seizing the criminal soul. The entreaty would be: O my Lord! Send me back.

90. It occurs at several places in the Quran that each of the criminals, after his death till his entry into Hell, and even after that, will plead again and again: Lord, send me back to the world, I will no more disobey Thee, I will now do righteous deeds. See (Surah Al-Anaam, Ayats 27, 28); (Surah Al-Aaraf, Ayat 53); (Surah Ibrahim, Ayats 44, 45); (Surah Ash-Shuara, Ayat 102); (Surah Al-Fatir, Ayat 37); (Surah Az- Zumar, Ayats 58, 59); (Surah Al-Momin, Ayats 10-12), and (Surah Ash-Shura, Ayats 44 )along with the relevant E.Ns.

91. That is, he will never be sent back nor given another opportunity, for in that case the test and trial for which man is sent to this world becomes meaningless. For further explanation, see (Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 210 and E. N. 228 )thereof, and E.Ns 6, 139, 140 of Surah Al-Anaam) and (E.N. 26 of Surah Younus).

92. That is, now, when he has met his doom, he has nothing more to say than that he should be sent back to the world; so let him say what he likes; he will never be allowed to go back.

93. That is, now there is a barrier between them and the world, which will not allow them to go back to it. Therefore they shall remain in that state until the Day of Resurrection.