Surah Al-Hijr — Verse 23

Key Words and Their Meanings:

• Nuhyee (نُحْيِي): We give life — bringing forth creation from non-existence, and resurrecting after death.
• Numitu (نُمِيتُ): We cause death — taking away life at the appointed time.
• Al-Waarithoon (الْوَارِثُونَ): The Inheritors — the One who remains after all creation perishes, inheriting everything that once belonged to others.

Explanation of the Verse:

In this profound verse, Allah declares His absolute and exclusive power over life and death. He is the One who brings living beings into existence from nothing — a miracle that occurs at every moment as new lives are born. He is also the One who causes death when a person's appointed time arrives, whether in youth or old age, in sickness or in health. No one else shares this authority; no doctor, no ruler, no force in the universe can delay or hasten a single breath without His permission.

Then comes the beautiful and awe-inspiring conclusion: "And We are the Inheritors." Everything in this world — wealth, kingdoms, bodies, and even the earth itself — will eventually pass away. But Allah remains. He is the Ever-Living, the Eternal. When all of creation has perished, He will inherit the earth and everything upon it, meaning He will remain as the sole Owner after all others have gone. This is a reminder that nothing we possess truly belongs to us; we are merely temporary custodians, and everything returns to its true Owner.

A Call to Reflection and Action:

Dear reader, this verse invites you to contemplate the reality of your existence. If Allah alone gives life and causes death, then your life is a trust from Him — a precious gift with a purpose. And if He is the Inheritor of all things, then your ultimate return is to Him. Let this knowledge transform your heart: do not cling to this world as if it were permanent, for it is fleeting. Instead, invest your time and energy in what will remain with you on the Day you meet your Lord — your faith, your good deeds, and your sincere devotion. The One who created you and will take your life is the same One who will resurrect you and inherit all that you leave behind. So turn to Him now, before the appointed hour arrives, and make your life a journey of obedience and love toward the One who holds your beginning and your end.