Transliteration:( Faman azlamu mimmanif taraa 'alal laahi kaziban aw kazzaba bi Aayaatih; ulaaa'ika yanaaluhum naseebuhum minal Kitaab; hatta izaa jaaa'at hum rusulunaa yatawaf fawnahum qaalooo aina maa kuntum tad'oonaa min doonil laahi qaaloo dalloo 'annaa wa shahidoo 'alaaa anfusihim annahum kaanoo kaafireen )
"Then who is more unjust than him who has forged a lie against Allah or has belied His signs? They will receive what is written in their lot [78] till when Our Messengers (angels) come to them for taking away their souls [79]. Then they say to them: 'Where are those whom you used to worship besides Allah?' [80] They say: 'They are lost from us.' And they bear witness against their own souls that they were infidels [81]."
By this is meant that whatever is recorded for them in the Tablet of Destiny and Fate, including their age and portion, will be fully delivered before punishment begins. This refers to their original, allotted sustenance and lifespan. There is no contradiction between this verse and the Hadiths stating that evil deeds reduce lifespan and sustenance, while good deeds increase them, as those changes are also within Allah’s foreknowledge and decree.
From this, two important points emerge:
Not only Hazrat Isra’il (Angel of Death) comes to take the soul, but other subordinate angels under his command are also involved. The verse “Say, the Angel of Death who has been appointed over you…” (S32:V11) refers to Isra’il, while the current verse refers to his assisting angels.
If the angels of death can be present simultaneously at different places, then by Allah’s permission, pious saints and sages can also be present in multiple places. The same applies to the angels assigned to the womb. Therefore, being omnipresent and omniscient in a limited, permission-based sense is a quality granted to some special servants of Allah Almighty.
This question—“Where are those whom you used to worship?”—will be posed to the polytheists about their idols. In contrast, believers are assisted at the time of death. That is why the verse ends with “they were infidels.” Muslims are commanded to sit beside the dying and recite the Kalima, so that the departing soul may affirm it before death. Hence, this verse does not apply to believers or the friends of Allah, but shows the abandonment of the disbelievers as a form of Divine punishment.
Their confession of disbelief will take place at one stage, while their denial of polytheism will happen at another time. Therefore, there is no inconsistency with the verse: “By Allah, our Lord, we were not polytheists.” (S6:V23). Each statement belongs to a different phase of their judgment.
37. Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah or rejects His Ayat For such their appointed portion will reach them from the Book (of Decrees) until Our messengers (the angel of death and his assistants) come to them to take their souls, they (the angels) will say: “Where are those whom you used to invoke and worship besides Allah,” they will reply, “They have vanished and deserted us.” And they will bear witness against themselves, that they were disbelievers.
Allah said,
(Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah or rejects His Ayat) meaning, none is more unjust than whoever invents a lie about Allah or rejects the Ayat that He has revealed. Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi said that,
(For such their appointed portion will reach them from the Book) refers to each person’s deeds, alloted provisions and age. Similar was said by Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam. Allah said in similar statements,
(Verily, those who invent a lie against Allah, will never be successful. (A brief) enjoyment in this world! And then unto Us will be their return, then We shall make them taste the severest torment because they used to disbelieve.) ﴿10:69-70﴾ and,
(And whoever disbelieves, let not his disbelief grieve you. To Us is their return, and We shall inform them what they have done. Verily, Allah is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts (of men). We let them enjoy for a little while.) ﴿31:23-24﴾. Allah said next,
(until when Our messengers come to them to take their souls.) Allah states that when death comes to the idolators and the angels come to capture their souls to take them to Hellfire, the angels horrify them, saying, “Where are the so-called partners (of Allah) whom you used to call in the life of this world, invoking and worshipping them instead of Allah Call them so that they save you from what you are suffering.” However, the idolators will reply,
(“They have vanished and deserted us”) meaning, we have lost them and thus, we do not hope in their benefit or aid,
(And they will bear witness against themselves) they will admit and proclaim against themselves,
(that they were disbelievers.)
(7:37) Who is more unjust then he who invents a falsehood, ascribing it to Allah, or who rejects His revelation as false? Their full portion of God’s Decree shall reach them,[29] until Our deputed angels come to them to take charge of their souls, and say: ‘Where are the deities now, those whom you invoked besides Allah?’ They will say: ‘They are all gone away from us.’ And they shall bear witness against themselves that they were unbelievers.
29, All men, whether good or bad, have been granted a definite term in this world which they will spend and obtain their share of worldly happiness and misery.
[368]- What is decreed for them.
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