Surah Al-A'la 87:13
سُورَةُ الأَعۡلَىٰ · Meccan · Verse 13 of 19
ثُمَّ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ
Translation
where they will neither die nor live.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This profound verse describes a harrowing state of endless torment for those who reject faith, guiding us to reflect on the precise choice of words Allah uses to convey this reality.
A State of Wretchedness
The ayah speaks of the fate of "the most wretched" (الأشقى) – those who turned away from guidance because they did not fear Allah. After experiencing the intense heat of the Great Fire, they face a condition uniquely designed to multiply their suffering.
The Gravity of "Then" (ثُمَّ)
The verse begins with the word "ثُمَّ" (thumma), meaning "then" or "moreover." Scholars like al-Zamakhshari and Ibn Ashur explain that this isn't just about time passing. Rather, it signals a *rise in the level of severity*. Being cast into the fire is terrible enough, but the state described *after* that is even more dreadful and adds another layer of torment. It highlights that the subsequent condition is more severe than the burning itself.
Neither Death Nor Life
The core of the verse lies in the dual negation: "لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ" (neither dies therein nor lives).
* "لَا يَمُوتُ" (lā yamūtu - he will not die): As al-Jalalayn explains, death would bring relief from the agony. But this is denied. The wretched one will not perish to escape the pain; their sensation of torment will never cease, as Ibn Ashur notes.
* "وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ" (wa lā yaḥyā - nor will he live): This clarifies that not dying does not mean finding any form of comfortable or beneficial existence. Ibn Ashur describes this as a "safeguard" in the wording. If it only said "he won't die," one might mistakenly think the burning is mild, allowing for some sort of tolerable life. But by also saying "nor live," Allah explicitly denies any life "free from pains," as Ibn Ashur clarifies. It is not a pleasant life (حياة هنيئة) according to al-Jalalayn.
This careful phrasing emphasizes a horrifying paradox: a continuous non-existence, a torment that provides neither the rest of death nor the comfort of true life. Ibn Ashur highlights the rhetorical contrast (ṭibāq) between "dies" and "lives," underscoring the unnatural and uniquely dreadful nature of this punishment. It's a state of being eternally suspended between two extremes, experiencing the agony of both without the respite of either.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Qur'anic Worlds
The Deepest Agony
This verse, Surah 87:13, paints a stark picture of a profound and unending torment for those described in the preceding verses as "the most wretched" (الأشقى), who turn away from Allah's reminder. The verse states that in the great Fire, such an individual "neither dies therein nor lives" (ثُمَّ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ). What does this truly mean? As scholars like al-Baghawi explain, it means they will not die to find rest or escape the torment, nor will they truly live a life that offers any comfort or benefit. Sayyid Qutb emphasizes that this is an eternal suffering, where there is no end to the feeling of pain and no possibility of peace. It's a state of perpetual agony, a living death where neither death brings solace nor life brings ease. This description served as a powerful warning within the World of Revelation to the Prophet's ﷺ first audience in Makkah, urging them to reflect on the consequences of their rejection.
A Prophetic Clarification
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, through his teachings, offered further insight into this ultimate destination, illuminating the World of Revelation for his Companions. Imam Ibn Kathir relates narrations from the Prophet ﷺ that clarify the meaning of "neither dies nor lives." The Prophet ﷺ explained that those who are truly "the people of the Fire" (أهل النار الذين هم أهلها) and are meant to stay there eternally, will indeed neither die nor live. However, for some individuals whom Allah intends mercy, they might be made to die in the Fire for a period due to their sins, turning to charcoal, before Allah permits intercession and they are eventually taken out and revived in the rivers of Paradise. This profound distinction, revealed by the Prophet ﷺ, gave the Companions a more nuanced understanding of divine justice and mercy, showing that even within the severe warnings of the Quran, there are layers of meaning concerning different groups of people.
A Powerful Reminder
Thus, this verse, as part of the Quran's revelation, deeply impacted the first audience. It served as a vivid and terrifying image for those who rejected the Prophet's message, warning them about a state beyond imagination. At the same time, the Prophet's ﷺ elaborations provided his followers with hope for sinful believers, while never diminishing the severity of the ultimate punishment for those who utterly refuse the truth. This dual message, anchored in the clear words of the Quran and illuminated by Prophetic explanation, continues to be a potent reminder for us today within the vast tapestry of the World of Revelation.
Sources: al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Ibn Kathir
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-A'la 87:13 is discussed in one study guide on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-A'la 87:13 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.