Transliteration:( Wa maa ja'alnaa libasharim min qablikal khuld; afa immitta fahumul khaalidoon )
"And We made not before you for any man to live forever [51] in the world. Will they then live forever if you pass away?"
This verse responds to the mockery and wishful thinking of the disbelievers, who would say:
"When Muhammad ﷺ dies, his mission will end."
Allah makes it clear: No human has been granted eternal life—not before, and not now.
Even righteous beings like Hazrat Khidr and Hazrat Isa (peace be upon them), and even Iblees (the cursed devil), will face death.
Importantly, this verse does not imply that Hazrat Isa has already died, as falsely claimed by groups like the Qadyanis.
Rather, it clarifies a broader principle:
👉 Long life is not the same as eternal life.
👉 No soul will live forever in this world.
Thus, the verse is a refutation of arrogance among the disbelievers and a reminder of universal mortality—including those who await the Prophet’s death as if it would invalidate the truth.
The message remains eternal, even if the messenger returns to his Lord.
34. And We granted not to any human being immortality before you; then if you die, would they live forever 35. Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall test you with evil and with good by way of trial. 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,
(Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish. And the Face of your Lord full of majesty and honor will remain forever.) ﴿55:26-27﴾.
(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:
(Everyone is going to taste death,)
(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.
(21:34) (O Muhammad),[36] We did not grant everlasting life to any human being even before you. If you were to die, will they live for ever?
36. From here the same theme of the conflict between the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the disbelievers, that was interrupted by (Surah Al-Anbiya, ayat 19-33), has been resumed.
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