Surah Al-Waqi'ah — Verse 60

Word Meanings:

• Qaddarna (قَدَّرْنَا): We have decreed, ordained, and precisely determined.
• Al-Mawt (الْمَوْتَ): Death — the departure of the soul from the body at its appointed time.
• Bi-Masbuqin (بِمَسْبُوقِينَ): Those who can be overtaken, overcome, or prevented — i.e., incapable of being thwarted or escaped.

Explanation of the Verse:

In this profound verse, Allah — the Exalted — reminds us of one of the most certain realities of life: death. He declares that He alone has decreed death among you, meaning that every single soul has an appointed time — a fixed moment that neither advances nor delays. No one can die before their time, and no one can live beyond it. This decree is part of Allah’s perfect wisdom and absolute sovereignty over all creation.

Then Allah adds: “And We are not to be overtaken” — meaning, We are not incapable, nor can anyone escape Our will or frustrate Our plan. No power, no wealth, no status, and no precaution can prevent what Allah has ordained. This is a direct challenge to human arrogance: you may strive, plan, and build, but death remains beyond your control. It comes when Allah wills, and no one can stop it.

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of human vulnerability and Allah’s complete authority. It calls upon the believer to reflect: if death is so certain and so firmly decreed, then what is the purpose of this fleeting life? It is a preparation for the eternal life to come. The One who decreed death is the same One who will resurrect you — and He is fully capable of recreating you in forms you cannot even imagine, as the following verses confirm.

A Da’wah Reflection:

Dear reader, pause for a moment. Have you ever truly contemplated the certainty of death? It is the one appointment that no one misses. Yet, how often do we live as though we will remain here forever? This verse is not meant to frighten you into despair, but to awaken you into action. If your time is already written, then what matters is how you fill the space between now and that moment. Will you live in heedlessness, chasing fleeting pleasures? Or will you live in awareness, seeking the pleasure of your Creator, preparing for the meeting with Him?

The same Allah who decreed death is the One who says: “And We are not to be overtaken.” He is never incapable. He who created you from nothing can surely recreate you after death. So turn to Him now, before your appointed hour arrives. Repent, worship, and draw closer to Him — for He is the Most Merciful, the Most Forgiving, and He loves those who return to Him. Do not let this life deceive you; make it a bridge to eternal success.