Surah Al Isra Tafseer

Refutation of Those Who do not believe in Life after Death

Allah tells us about the disbelievers who think it very unlikely that the Resurrection will happen;

وَقَالُواْ أَيِذَا كُنَّا عِظَامًا وَرُفَاتًا

And they say:When we are bones and fragments.

meaning earth.

This was the view of Mujahid.

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn Abbas:

it means dust.

أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا

should we really be resurrected (to be) a new creation!

meaning, on the Day of Resurrection after we have disintegrated and become nothing, and have been forgotten.

Allah tells us about them elsewhere:

يَقُولُونَ أَءِنَّا لَمَرْدُودُونَ فِى الْحَـفِرَةِ

أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَـماً نَّخِرَةً

قَالُواْ تِلْكَ إِذاً كَرَّةٌ خَـسِرَةٌ

They say:"Shall we indeed be returned to (our) former state of life even after we are crumbled bones!" They say:"It would in that case, be a return with loss!" (79:10-12)

And,

وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلً وَنَسِىَ خَلْقَهُ

And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. until the end of two Ayat. (36:78-79)

Allah commands His Messenger to respond to them, so He says:

قُل كُونُواْ حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيدًا