Surah Al-An'am — Verse 60

Word Meanings:

• يَتَوَفَّاكُم بِاللَّيْلِ: He takes your souls at night — meaning, He causes you to sleep, which is a form of temporary death.
• مَا جَرَحْتُم: What you have earned or committed — literally "what you have wounded" with your actions, whether good or bad.
• يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ: He raises you up in it (the day) — meaning, He awakens you from sleep.
• لِيُقْضَىٰ أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى: So that a specified term may be fulfilled — the fixed span of your life in this world.
• مَرْجِعُكُمْ: Your return — your final destination after death.

Tafsir (Explanation):

This verse unveils one of the most profound signs of Allah’s power and mercy — the cycle of sleep and wakefulness, which mirrors the cycle of death and resurrection. Allah, the Exalted, is the One who takes your souls at night when you sleep. This is not a complete separation like death, but a temporary withdrawal of the soul, during which you lose consciousness of the world around you. And in that very state, He knows perfectly what you have "earned" during the day — every deed, every word, every hidden intention. The word *jarah tum* (you have earned) carries the imagery of actions that leave a mark, like a wound or a scar on the soul — whether that mark is one of obedience and light, or of sin and darkness. Nothing escapes His knowledge, not even the faintest whisper of the heart.

Then, by His sheer mercy, He returns your souls to your bodies in the morning — you wake up, alive and renewed — so that you may continue your journey until the appointed term of your life is completed. This daily cycle is a living lesson: just as you wake from sleep, you will one day wake from the grave. The One who is able to return your soul to your body after the "death" of sleep is certainly able to resurrect you after the death of this world.

And then comes the ultimate destination: "Then to Him is your return." Every path leads back to Him — the Creator, the Judge, the Just. And on that Day, He will inform you of all that you used to do — nothing will be missing, not even the weight of an atom. He will lay out your deeds before you, and you will be recompensed with absolute fairness.

A Call to Reflection:

Dear believer, pause and ponder this verse. Every night you experience a small death, and every morning a small resurrection. This is not a coincidence — it is a divine sign meant to soften your heart and remind you of the Hereafter. When you lie down to sleep, remember that your soul is in the Hands of Allah. When you wake up, thank Him for granting you another day to repent, to do good, and to draw closer to Him. Do not waste your daylight hours in heedlessness, for He knows every "wound" you inflict with your actions — whether in secret or in public. Let this awareness fill you with hope, for His mercy is vast, and with caution, for His knowledge is all-encompassing. Make every day a step toward His pleasure, so that when the final awakening comes, you will meet Him with a heart at peace and a record filled with light.