Surah Ghafir Tafseer

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلً ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوا أَشُدَّكُمْ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُوا شُيُوخًا

It is He, Who has created you from dust, then from a Nutfah then from a clot (a piece of coagulated blood), then brings you forth as an infant, then (makes you grow) to reach the age of full strength, and afterwards to be old.

meaning, He is the One Who Alone, with no partner or associate, causes you to pass through these different stages, and this happens in accordance with His command, will and decree.

وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّى مِن قَبْلُ

though some among you die before,

means, before being fully formed and emerging to this world; so his mother miscarries him. And there are some who die in infancy or in their youth, or when they are adults but before they reach old age, as Allah says:

لِّنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَنُقِرُّ فِى الاٌّرْحَامِ مَا نَشَأءُ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى

that We may make (it) clear to you. And We cause whom We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed term. (22:5)

وَلِتَبْلُغُوا أَجَلً مُّسَمًّى وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

and that you reach an appointed term in order that you may understand.

Ibn Jurayj said,

"In order that you may remember the Resurrection."

Then Allah says