Transliteration:( Kullu nafsin zaaa'iqatul mawt; wa nablookum bi sharri walkhairi fitnatanw wa ilainaa turja'oon )
"Every soul is to taste death [52]. And We prove you by evil and good for trial. And to Us you are to return [53]."
This verse declares a universal truth—every soul shall experience death, regardless of rank or righteousness.
But the experience of death varies:
For the devoted servants of Allah, death is sweet—a vehicle to union with the Beloved.
For the heedless and sinful, death is bitter—a transport to punishment and separation.
Death is not the end, but a transition. Just as a ship carries people across the ocean, death carries the soul to the next world—toward mercy or justice.
Allah tests people through both difficulty (evil) and ease (good):
Suffering tests our patience and trust in Allah.
Blessings test our gratitude and humility.
Some people turn to Allah in hardship, while others become arrogant in comfort.
Both conditions are means of examination, not permanent states.
The verse ends with the ultimate reality:
👉 "And to Us you are to return"
Whether joyfully or regretfully, every soul will return to Allah—none can escape.
The tafsir of Surah Anbiya verse 35 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Anbiya ayat 34 which provides the complete commentary from verse 34 through 35.
(21:35) Every living being shall taste death[37] and We shall subject you to ill and good by way of trial,[38] and to Us shall all of you be eventually sent back.
37. This is a brief answer to all those warnings and curses with which the Prophet (peace be upon him) was being threatened and the conspiracies which the Quraish were hatching against him day and night. On the one hand, the women of the Quraish cursed him because according to them he had ruined their home life by enticing away their kith and kits. While on the other hand, the chiefs of the Quraish threatened him with horrible consequences for the propagation of Islam. After the emigration to Habash especially, which almost affected every home of Makkah, these curses and threats increased all the more. This verse is meant to comfort and console the Prophet (peace be upon him) as well so that he should continue his mission without any fear of their threats.
38. That is, Allah is always putting human beings to test and trial both through adversity and affluence. This is to judge whether prosperity makes them proud, cruel and slaves of their lusts or they become grateful to Allah. On the other hand, He inflicts adversity upon them in order to see whether they remain within the prescribed and lawful limits or become low-spirited and down-hearted. A sensible person therefore should not be deluded by prosperity and adversity, but should keep their trial element in view and try to pass through it gracefully.
For a faster and smoother experience,
install our mobile app now.
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics