Surah As-Saffat — Verse 17

Word Meanings:

• أَوَآبَاؤُنَا (or our forefathers): The conjunction "أَوَ" here carries the meaning of "and" or "also," expressing astonishment and denial. "آبَاؤُنَا" means our fathers, ancestors, or forefathers.
• الْأَوَّلُونَ (the first/earliest ones): Those who came before us in ancient times, the earliest generations who have long since passed away and turned to dust.

Explanation of the Verse:

This verse continues the response of the disbelievers to the call of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the message of resurrection. After they dismissed the message as clear magic, they added in their denial and mockery: "And our forefathers of old — will they also be raised to life?" They meant: even our earliest ancestors, who died thousands of years ago and whose bones have completely disintegrated and become dust scattered in the earth — will they too be brought back to life?

Their question was not a genuine inquiry seeking truth, but rather an expression of extreme astonishment and stubborn rejection. They considered the resurrection impossible, especially for their ancient forefathers, because the more remote the person, the more impossible they deemed their return to life. They said this while mocking and ridiculing, as if to say: "How can those who have perished so long ago, leaving no trace behind, ever be resurrected?"

The verse highlights the depth of their denial and their failure to grasp the infinite power of Allah, who created them from nothing in the first place. If He could create them from a drop of fluid, then bringing them back after death is even easier for Him. Their astonishment reveals a heart far from faith, one that measures divine power by human limitations.

A Call to Reflection and Faith:

Dear reader, pause and reflect: The One who created the heavens and the earth, who brought every living being into existence from nothing, and who will cause all things to perish and then bring them back — is He not able to resurrect the earliest of generations? Indeed, His power knows no bounds, and nothing is difficult for Him. The resurrection of all mankind, from the first to the last, is as easy for Him as the creation of a single soul.

This verse invites you to free your mind from the chains of blind denial and to open your heart to the truth. The Quran repeatedly calls you to reflect on your own creation: how you were once nothing, then a drop, then a clot, then a fetus, until you emerged into this world. The One who did all that is certainly capable of bringing you back after death. Do not be like those who said, "Will we and our forefathers be resurrected?" while their hearts were sealed with arrogance. Rather, be among those who say: "We believe in it; all of it is from our Lord." For the resurrection is a certainty, and on that Day, every soul shall be recompensed for what it has earned. So prepare for that Day before it arrives, and let your faith in the Hereafter be a beacon that guides your steps in this worldly life.