`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said about the Ayah, (ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ and repent soon (afterwards)), "Until just before he (or she) looks at the angel of death.''
Ad-Dahhak said, "Everything before death is `soon (afterwards).'''
Al-Hasan Al-Basri said about the Ayah, (ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ and repent soon afterwards), "Just before his last breath leaves his throat.'' `Ikrimah said, "All of this life is `soon (afterwards).''
Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger said, (إِنَّ اللهَ يَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ الْعَبْدِمَالَمْ يُغَرْغِر Allah accepts the repentance of the servant as long as the soul does not reach the throat.) This Hadith was also collected by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Gharib''. By mistake, Ibn Majah mentioned that this Hadith was narrated through `Abdullah bin `Amr.
However, what is correct is that `Abdullah bin `Umar bin Al-Khattab was the narrator. Allah said, (فَأُوْلَـئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً It is they to whom Allah will forgive and Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.) Surely, when hope in continued living diminishes, the angel of death comes forth and the soul reaches the throat, approaches the chest and arrives at the state where it is being gradually pulled out, then there is no accepted repentance, nor a way out of that certain end.
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ(So, when they saw Our punishment, they said: "We believe in Allah Alone...'') [40:84]
Ibn `Abbas, Abu Al-`Aliyah and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said that the Ayah: (وَلاَ الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ nor of those who die while they are disbelievers), was revealed about the people of Shirk.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Usamah bin Salman said that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah said, (إِنَّ اللهَ يَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ عَبْدِهِ أَوْ يَغْفِرُ لِعَبْدِهِ مَالَمْ يَقَعِ الْحِجَاب Allah accepts the repentance of His servant, or forgives His servant, as long as the veil does not drop.) They asked, "And what does the drop of the veil mean '' He said, (أَنْ تَخْرُجَ النَّفْسُ وَهِيَ مُشْرِكَة When the soul is removed while one is a polytheist.)
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
- Tafsir Ibn Khatir
- Muhammad Asad Translation
- Yusuf Ali Translation
- Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
- Qur'an Wiki
- Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
- Towards Understanding the Quran