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Surah an-Nahl (The Bee ) 16 : 28

ٱلَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا۟ ٱلسَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوٓءٍۭ ۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

Translations

 
 Muhsin Khan
 Pickthall
 Yusuf Ali
Quran Project
The ones whom the angels take in death [while] wronging themselves, and [who] then offer submission, [saying], "We were not doing any evil." But, yes! Indeed, Allāh is Knowing of what you used to do.

Qur'an Dictionary

Click word/image to view Qur'an Dictionary
Word Arabic word
(16:28:1)
alladhīna
Those whom
(16:28:2)
tatawaffāhumu
take them in death
(16:28:3)
l-malāikatu
the Angels
(16:28:4)
ẓālimī
(while) wronging
(16:28:5)
anfusihim
themselves
(16:28:6)
fa-alqawū
then they would offer
(16:28:7)
l-salama
the submission
(16:28:8)
(16:28:9)
kunnā
we were
(16:28:10)
naʿmalu
doing
(16:28:11)
(16:28:12)
sūin
evil
(16:28:13)
(16:28:14)
(16:28:15)
l-laha
Allah
(16:28:16)
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knower
(16:28:17)
(16:28:18)
kuntum
you used (to)
(16:28:19)
taʿmalūna
do

1. Lessons/Guidance/Reflections/Gems

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Explanatory Note

Now they are taken a step backwards, and described at the moment they face death. “Ignominy and misery shall this day befall the unbelievers, those whom the angels have gathered in death while they are still wronging themselves.” (Verses 27-28) The angels are gathering their souls which they themselves have wronged by depriving themselves of the light and reassurance of faith. By their own actions they have brought about their own ruin, and now they have to suffer punishment in hell.

The sūrah paints their position at the moment of their death, when they are still close to earth and to all the falsehood they asserted here, and all their evil scheming: “These will then offer their submission, saying: ‘We have done no wrong!’” (Verse 28) Those who used to revel in their arrogance are now submissive, unable to contend. They offer complete submission! But at the same time they lie. This may be an aspect of their plotting in this life as they submissively say: “We have done no wrong!”

Yet the answer comes to them straightaway from God who knows their true reality: “Yes, indeed. God has full knowledge of all that you were doing!” (Verse 28)

2. Linguistic Analysis

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Frequency of Root words in this Ayat used in this Surah *


3. Surah Overview

4. Miscellaneous Information

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5. Connected/Related Ayat

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6. Frequency of the word

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7. Period of Revelation

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The following internal evidence shows that this Surah was revealed during the last Makkan stage of Prophethood:

1.         V. 41 clearly shows that persecution had forced some Muslims to emigrate to Abyssinia before the revelation of this Surah.

2.         It is evident from v. 106 that at that time the persecution of the Muslims was at its height and a problem had arisen where Muslims under persecution were being forced to utter words of blasphemy.

3.         V. 112-114 clearly refer to the end of a seven year famine that had struck Makkah some years after the beginning of Prophethood.

8. Reasons for Revelation

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9. Relevant Hadith

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