Surah Al-An"aam 6:60 - Tafsir & Translation

Al-An'am 6:60, stating 'Wahuwa allathee yatawaffakum billayli wayaalam ma jarahtum binnahari thumma yabathukum feehi liyuqda ajalun musamman thumma ilayhi marjiaaukum thumma yunabbi-ukum bima kuntum taamaloon' (It is He who takes your souls by night and knows what you have done by day, then He raises you up again so that a specified term may be fulfilled. Then to Him will be your return; then He will inform you about what you used to do), establishes Allah's complete control over the cycle of life, death, and resurrection while demonstrating His perfect awareness of all human actions according to authentic Islamic scholarship. This verse builds upon the previous discussion of divine knowledge and timing, providing a profound illustration of Allah's absolute sovereignty over human existence through the daily experience of sleep and awakening. The opening phrase 'wahuwa allathee yatawaffakum billayli' (It is He who takes your souls by night) introduces the concept of sleep as a form of minor death (wafat sughra), establishing that even the temporary suspension of consciousness during sleep demonstrates Allah's complete control over the soul. Classical tafsir explains that 'yatawaffakum' (takes your souls) refers to the temporary withdrawal of consciousness and active soul functions during sleep, creating a state that parallels death without the permanent separation of soul from body. Ibn Kathir notes that this daily experience of sleep serves as a practical demonstration of Allah's power over life and death, making the concept of resurrection tangible and comprehensible to human experience. The verse teaches that sleep is not merely a biological function but a divine act that temporarily suspends human faculties, placing individuals completely under Allah's control and demonstrating their absolute dependence on divine will for both life and consciousness. The phrase 'wayaalam ma jarahtum binnahari' (and knows what you have done by day) establishes Allah's complete awareness of all human actions performed during waking hours. The word 'jarahtum' (you have done/committed) encompasses all types of human activity - physical actions, spoken words, mental intentions, and emotional states. Classical scholars explain that this comprehensive knowledge includes not only observable actions but also their motivations, circumstances, consequences, and the inner spiritual state of the individual performing them. This divine awareness operates continuously and perfectly, with no action escaping Allah's knowledge regardless of how hidden, insignificant, or forgotten it might be by the actor. The transition 'thumma yabathukum feehi' (then He raises you up again) describes the daily awakening as a form of minor resurrection, demonstrating Allah's power to restore consciousness and active life after the temporary death-like state of sleep. According to Mujahid, Qatadah, and As-Suddi, this daily awakening serves as a powerful reminder and proof of the greater resurrection that will occur on the Day of Judgment. The verse teaches that just as Allah restores consciousness and life functions every morning after the temporary suspension of sleep, He possesses the power to restore complete life after permanent death. This daily cycle provides believers with a tangible, repeatedly experienced proof of resurrection that addresses human doubts about the possibility of life after death. The purpose clause 'liyuqda ajalun musamman' (so that a specified term may be fulfilled) indicates that this daily cycle of sleep and awakening continues until the completion of each individual's predetermined lifespan. The term 'ajalun musamman' (specified term) refers to the divinely appointed duration of each person's life, determined by Allah's knowledge and wisdom. Classical tafsir explains that this appointed term cannot be shortened or extended by human effort, illness, or accident - it represents Allah's decree about the exact moment when permanent death will occur and the soul will be permanently separated from the body. The daily restoration through awakening serves the divine purpose of allowing individuals to complete their allotted time on earth and fulfill their spiritual and moral responsibilities. The declaration 'thumma ilayhi marjiaaukum' (then to Him will be your return) establishes the ultimate destination of all human souls after the completion of their earthly term. This return encompasses both individual death and the collective resurrection on the Day of Judgment when all of humanity will be gathered before Allah. The phrase emphasizes that just as the daily awakening demonstrates Allah's control over consciousness and life, the final resurrection will demonstrate His absolute power over all creation. Classical scholars note that this return is inevitable and universal - no soul can escape or avoid this final appointment with Allah regardless of worldly power, wealth, or attempts to deny divine authority. The concluding statement 'thumma yunabbi-ukum bima kuntum taamaloon' (then He will inform you about what you used to do) establishes the principle of perfect divine justice based on complete knowledge. The word 'yunabbi-ukum' (He will inform you) indicates that every action will be revealed and made known, with nothing hidden or forgotten. This divine informing will include not only the actions themselves but also their motivations, consequences, and spiritual significance. The verse teaches that Allah's daily awareness of human actions during waking hours will culminate in complete accountability where every deed will be perfectly judged according to divine justice. This accountability will be based on Allah's perfect knowledge that encompasses circumstances, intentions, capacities, and all factors relevant to fair judgment. The verse provides profound theological insight into the nature of human existence as being completely dependent on divine will and control. It teaches that consciousness, life, and the ability to act are gifts from Allah that can be temporarily or permanently withdrawn according to divine wisdom. The daily experience of sleep and awakening serves as a constant reminder of human fragility and dependence while simultaneously providing reassurance about Allah's power to restore life and grant resurrection. For believers, this verse offers comfort in knowing that Allah's awareness encompasses all their struggles, efforts, and sincere intentions, ensuring that perfect justice will ultimately prevail. The verse also serves as a warning to those who forget their dependence on Allah or imagine they can escape divine awareness and accountability. The comparison between daily sleep/awakening and death/resurrection became a fundamental element in Islamic theology and spiritual practice. The prophetic tradition includes specific supplications for sleeping and awakening that acknowledge this spiritual reality, including the morning prayer: 'Alhamdulillahi alladhi ahyana baada ma amatana wa ilayhi an-nushoor' (All praise belongs to Allah who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the resurrection). This daily practice reinforces the theological lesson of the verse by making believers conscious of their dependence on Allah and the reality of resurrection. The verse encourages believers to maintain awareness of divine observation throughout their daily activities, promoting God-consciousness (taqwa) and moral behavior. It reminds them that the temporary nature of sleep serves as preparation for the permanent transition of death, encouraging proper spiritual preparation and righteous living. For Islamic understanding of human nature, this verse establishes that humans exist in a state of complete dependence on Allah for both physical and spiritual functions, with consciousness and life being divine gifts rather than inherent human possessions.