Surah Baqarah ayat 154 Tafsir Quran 2:154

﴿وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَن يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَشْعُرُونَ﴾
[ البقرة: 154]

2:154 And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, "They are dead." Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not.

And say not of those slain in God’s way that ‘They are dead’; rather they are living their spirits are according to a hadīth contained in green birds that take wing freely wherever they wish in Paradise; but you are not aware but you do not know their condition.

Do not consider the martyrs in Allah’s cause to be dead. They carried truth’s banners against odds and have acquired the glorious privilege of martyrdom through resisting shedding blood with spiritual armour. Do not say, They are dead, for they are alive in heavens realm but your senses do not perceive this fact

The Virtue of Patience and Prayer After Allah commanded that He be appreciated, He ordained patience and prayer.
It is a fact that the servant is either enjoying a bounty that he should be thankful for, or suffering a calamity that he should meet with patience.
A Hadith states:
«عَجَبًا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ لَا يَقْضِي اللهُ لَهُ قَضَاءً إلَّا كَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ: إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ فَشَكَرَ كَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ وإنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ فَصَبَرَ كَانَ خَيْرًا لَه»
( Amazing is the believer, for whatever Allah decrees for him, it is better for him! If he is tested with a bounty, he is grateful for it and this is better for him; and if he is afflicted with a hardship, he is patient with it and this is better for him. ) Allah has stated that the best tools to help ease the effects of the afflictions are patience and prayer.
Earlier we mentioned Allah's statement: وَاسْتَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَوةِ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلاَّ عَلَى الْخَـشِعِينَ ( And seek help in patience and As-Salah (the prayer ) and truly, it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashi`in i.e., the true believers in Allah) ( 2:45 ) There are several types of Sabr ـ patience: one for avoiding the prohibitions and sins, one for acts of worship and obedience.
The second type carries more rewards than the first type.
There is a third type of patience required in the face of the afflictions and hardships, which is mandatory, like repentance. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "Sabr has two parts: patience for the sake of Allah concerning what He is pleased with ( i.e., acts of worship and obedience ), even if it is hard on the heart and the body, and patience when avoiding what He dislikes, even if it is desired.
Those who acquire these qualities will be among the patient persons whom Allah shall greet ( when they meet Him in the Hereafter; refer to Surat Al-Ahzab 33:44 ), Allah willing." The Life enjoyed by Martyrs Allah's statement: وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَن يُقْتَلُ فِى سَبيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ ( And say not of those who are killed in the way of Allah, "They are dead." Nay, they are living, ) indicates that the martyrs are alive and receiving their sustenance. Muslim reported in his Sahih:
«أَنَّ أَرْوَاحَ الشُّهَدَاءِ فِي حَوَاصِلَ طَيْرٍ خُضْرٍ، تَسْرَحُ فِي الْجَنَّة حَيْثُ شَاءَتْ، ثُمَّ تَأْوِي إلَى قَنَادِيلَ مُعَلَّقَةٍ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ، فَاطَّلَعَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّكَ اطِّلَاعَةً، فقَالَ: مَاذَا تَبْغُونَ؟ فَقَالُوا: يَا رَبَّنَا وَأَيَّ شَيْءٍ نَبْغِي، وَقَدْ أَعْطَيْتنَا مَا لَمْ تُعْطِ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ؟ ثُمَّ عَادَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِمِثْلِ هذَا، فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا أَنَّهُم لَا يُتْرَكُون مِنْ أَنْ يُسْأَلُوا، قَالُوا: نُرِيدُ أَنْ تَرُدَّنَا إِلَى الدَّارِ الدُّنْيَا فَنُقَاتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِكَ حَتَّى نُقْتَلَ فِيكَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى لِمَا يَرَوْنَ مِنْ ثَوابِ الشَّهادَةِ فَيَقُولُ الرَّبُّ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ: إِنِّي كَتَبْتُ أَنَّهُمْ إلَيْهَا لَا يَرْجِعُون»
( The souls of the martyrs are inside green birds and move about in Paradise wherever they wish.
Then, they take refuge in lamps that are hanging under the Throne (of Allah ).
Your Lord looked at them and asked them, `What do you wish for' They said, `What more could we wish for while You have favored us with what You have not favored any other of your creation' He repeated the question again.
When they realize that they will be asked ( until they answer ), they said, `We wish that You send us back to the earthly life, so that we fight in Your cause until we are killed in Your cause again,' ( because of what they enjoy of the rewards of martyrdom ).
The Lord then said, `I have written that they will not be returned to it ( earthly life ) again.) Imam Ahmad reported that `Abdur-Rahman bin Ka`b bin Malik narrated from his father that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said:
«نَسَمَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ طَائِرٌ تَعْلَقُ فِي شَجَرِ الْجَنَّةِ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَهُ اللهُ إِلَى جَسَدهِ يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُه»
( The believer's soul is a bird that feeds on the trees of Paradise until Allah sends it back to its body when the person is resurrected. ) This Hadith includes all the believers in its general meaning.
Thus, the fact that the Qur'an mentions the martyrs in particular in the above Ayah serves to honor, glorify and favor them ( although the other believers share the rewards they enjoy ).

(2:154) And do not say of those who are slain in the way of Allah, "they are dead." In fact, they are alive but you do not perceive that life. *155

And do not say about those who meaning

*155).
The word 'death' as well as its general concept has a depressing effect.
People have therefore been instructed not to refer to martyrs who laid down their lives for God as 'dead', since this might lead to the dissipation of the spirit which enables people to struggle and make sacrifices in God's cause.
Instead, people have been instructed to bear in mind that anyone who lays down his life for God has in fact attained immortality.
As well as being a statement of fact this also helps to arouse and sustain courage.

 

The Virtue of Patience and Prayer After Allah commanded that He be appreciated, He ordained patience and prayer.
It is a fact that the servant is either enjoying a bounty that he should be thankful for, or suffering a calamity that he should meet with patience.
A Hadith states: «عَجَبًا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ لَا يَقْضِي اللهُ لَهُ قَضَاءً إلَّا كَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ: إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ فَشَكَرَ كَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ وإنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ فَصَبَرَ كَانَ خَيْرًا لَه» ( Amazing is the believer, for whatever Allah decrees for him, it is better for him! If he is tested with a bounty, he is grateful for it and this is better for him; and if he is afflicted with a hardship, he is patient with it and this is better for him. ) Allah has stated that the best tools to help ease the effects of the afflictions are patience and prayer.
Earlier we mentioned Allah's statement: وَاسْتَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَوةِ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلاَّ عَلَى الْخَـشِعِينَ ( And seek help in patience and As-Salah (the prayer ) and truly, it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashi`in i.e., the true believers in Allah) ( 2:45 ) There are several types of Sabr ـ patience: one for avoiding the prohibitions and sins, one for acts of worship and obedience.
The second type carries more rewards than the first type.
There is a third type of patience required in the face of the afflictions and hardships, which is mandatory, like repentance. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "Sabr has two parts: patience for the sake of Allah concerning what He is pleased with ( i.e., acts of worship and obedience ), even if it is hard on the heart and the body, and patience when avoiding what He dislikes, even if it is desired.
Those who acquire these qualities will be among the patient persons whom Allah shall greet ( when they meet Him in the Hereafter; refer to Surat Al-Ahzab 33:44 ), Allah willing." The Life enjoyed by Martyrs Allah's statement: وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَن يُقْتَلُ فِى سَبيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ ( And say not of those who are killed in the way of Allah, "They are dead." Nay, they are living, ) indicates that the martyrs are alive and receiving their sustenance. Muslim reported in his Sahih: «أَنَّ أَرْوَاحَ الشُّهَدَاءِ فِي حَوَاصِلَ طَيْرٍ خُضْرٍ، تَسْرَحُ فِي الْجَنَّة حَيْثُ شَاءَتْ، ثُمَّ تَأْوِي إلَى قَنَادِيلَ مُعَلَّقَةٍ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ، فَاطَّلَعَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّكَ اطِّلَاعَةً، فقَالَ: مَاذَا تَبْغُونَ؟ فَقَالُوا: يَا رَبَّنَا وَأَيَّ شَيْءٍ نَبْغِي، وَقَدْ أَعْطَيْتنَا مَا لَمْ تُعْطِ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ؟ ثُمَّ عَادَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِمِثْلِ هذَا، فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا أَنَّهُم لَا يُتْرَكُون مِنْ أَنْ يُسْأَلُوا، قَالُوا: نُرِيدُ أَنْ تَرُدَّنَا إِلَى الدَّارِ الدُّنْيَا فَنُقَاتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِكَ حَتَّى نُقْتَلَ فِيكَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى لِمَا يَرَوْنَ مِنْ ثَوابِ الشَّهادَةِ فَيَقُولُ الرَّبُّ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ: إِنِّي كَتَبْتُ أَنَّهُمْ إلَيْهَا لَا يَرْجِعُون» ( The souls of the martyrs are inside green birds and move about in Paradise wherever they wish.
Then, they take refuge in lamps that are hanging under the Throne (of Allah ).
Your Lord looked at them and asked them, `What do you wish for' They said, `What more could we wish for while You have favored us with what You have not favored any other of your creation' He repeated the question again.
When they realize that they will be asked ( until they answer ), they said, `We wish that You send us back to the earthly life, so that we fight in Your cause until we are killed in Your cause again,' ( because of what they enjoy of the rewards of martyrdom ).
The Lord then said, `I have written that they will not be returned to it ( earthly life ) again.) Imam Ahmad reported that `Abdur-Rahman bin Ka`b bin Malik narrated from his father that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said: «نَسَمَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ طَائِرٌ تَعْلَقُ فِي شَجَرِ الْجَنَّةِ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَهُ اللهُ إِلَى جَسَدهِ يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُه» ( The believer's soul is a bird that feeds on the trees of Paradise until Allah sends it back to its body when the person is resurrected. ) This Hadith includes all the believers in its general meaning.
Thus, the fact that the Qur'an mentions the martyrs in particular in the above Ayah serves to honor, glorify and favor them ( although the other believers share the rewards they enjoy ).

Allah thereafter mentions the saying of the hypocrites apropos the martyrs of Badr, Uhud and all the other battles: " So-and-so has died and lost all comfort and happiness " , this in order to aggravate sincere believers, and so Allah says: ( And call not those who are slain in the way of Allah ) in obedience of Allah, on the Day of Badr or in any other battle ( " dead " ) like any other dead people. ( Nay they are living ) they are rather living like those living in Paradise, being provided with comfort and bounties, ( only ye perceive not ) you are not aware of the honour bestowed upon them or of their real state.

And say not of those who are killed in the Way of Allah, "They are dead." Nay, they are living, but you perceive (it) not.

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