Tafsir of Al Imran 3:158

(And if you die or are killed, unto Allah you will be gathered.) The mention of death before killing is because death is more frequent than killing, yet both are equal regarding the gathering. The meaning is: by whatever cause your demise occurs, you will be gathered unto Allah the Exalted, not to anyone else. He will recompense each of you according to what you deserve; He will reward the doer of good for his good deeds and the evildoer for his evil deeds. There is no one else from whom reward is sought or from whom the averting of punishment is expected. Therefore, prioritize the deeds that bring you closer to Him and gain you His pleasure, by obeying Him and striving in His cause. Do not lean toward the worldly life. Regarding what is attributed to al-Husayn, may Allah be pleased with him: "If bodies were created for death, then a man’s death by the sword in the path of Allah is superior."

The discussion concerning the two lams (the lam of the oath and the lam of the intended response) is the same as the discussion regarding their two counterparts elsewhere. The inclusion of the oath lam upon the fronted object signifies an emphasis on restriction and exclusivity, implying that His divinity, the Exalted, is what necessitates this. Some have claimed that the fronting of this object is merely for emphasis, and that its occurrence as a terminal verse-ending enhances its beauty; however, what we indicated first is worthier.

They said: "If it were not for this fronting, it would have been necessary to emphasize the verb with the nun (energetic), because when the affirmative present tense verb refers to the future, it must be emphasized when accompanied by the lam, contrary to the Kufans, who permit the alternation between them."

The manifest approach of some researchers suggests that there is an implied element in this sentence based on the context of what preceded it, meaning: "And if you die or are killed in the path of Allah." Perhaps taking it in its general sense is more appropriate.

Some have claimed that the verse divides the stations of servitude into three categories: Whoever worships Allah the Exalted out of fear of His Fire, He secures him from what he fears, and this is alluded to by His saying, "forgiveness from Allah." Whoever worships Allah the Exalted out of longing for His Paradise, He grants him what he hopes for, and this is alluded to by His saying, "and mercy," for mercy is among the names of Paradise. And whoever worships Allah the Exalted out of longing for His Noble Face, desiring nothing else, he is the sincere servant upon whom the Truth, may His Majesty be glorified, reveals Himself in the abode of His honor, and this is alluded to by His saying, "unto Allah you will be gathered." It is not hidden that this is a matter of interpretation (ta’wil), not a matter of literal explanation (tafsir).