| Al-Hijr: (23 - 25) And surely, It is We Who give life...

This is the sixth type of evidence for Monotheism, which is deriving the existence of the Capable, Willful God from the bringing to life and causing death to these creatures.

Regarding His statement: {And surely, It is We Who give life and cause death} (23), there are two views:

1. Some interpret it as referring to the life-giving power common to both plants and animals.
2. Others say that describing plants as being "given life" is metaphorical, thus necessitating that this statement be specifically applied to the life of animals. Since rational proofs have established that no power can create life except the Exalted Truth (Allah), the existence of life in animals is a conclusive proof of the existence of the willful, acting God.

His statement {And surely, It is We Who give life and cause death} implies restriction (Hassr), meaning there is no power to give life or cause death except to Us.

His statement {And We are the inheritors} (24) means that when all creation dies, the dominion of everyone ceases upon their death, and Allah remains, the True One, the sole Owner of all possessions. Thus, this is likened to inheritance, making Him the Inheritor from this perspective.

Regarding His statement: {And indeed, We already know the ones who have gone before you and indeed, We already know the ones who will come later} (25), there are several interpretations:

1. Ibn Abbas (narrated by 'Ata'): "Those who went before" refers to the people obedient to Allah, and "those who will come later" refers to those who lagged behind in obedience to Allah.
2. The First and Last Rows in Prayer: It refers to the first row of worshippers and the last row. It is narrated that when the Prophet (PBUH) encouraged joining the first row in prayer, people crowded towards it, and then Allah revealed this verse. The meaning is that Allah recompenses them according to their intentions.
3. Al-Dahhak and Muqatil: It refers to their description in the context of fighting (Jihad).
4. Ibn Abbas (narrated by Abu al-Jawza'): There was a beautiful woman praying behind the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). Some men would advance to the first row so they would not see her, while others would lag behind so they could see her. When they bowed, they would spread their arms apart to look beneath their armpits. Then Allah revealed this verse.
5. Other views:
   • "Those who went before" are the dead, and "those who will come later" are the living.
   • "Those who went before" are the previous nations, and "those who will come later" are the Ummah of Muhammad (PBUH).
   • 'Ikrimah: "Those who went before" are those already created, and "those who will come later" are those not yet created.

When the Almighty said: {And surely, It is We Who give life and cause death}, He followed it with: {And indeed, We already know the ones who have gone before you and indeed, We already know the ones who will come later} (25), to indicate that nothing about their conditions is hidden from Allah. This includes His knowledge of their precedence and lateness in origination and existence, and their precedence and lateness in various acts of obedience and good deeds. It is not appropriate to restrict the verse to one specific situation over another.

Regarding His statement: {And indeed, your Lord—He will gather them}, this serves as a reminder that the gathering, resurrection, and the Day of Judgment are obligatory matters. His statement {Indeed, He is Wise and Knowing} means that wisdom necessitates the obligation of gathering and resurrection, as we have established with numerous proofs at the beginning of Surah Yunus.

! 7 < { And indeed We have created man from sounding clay from an altered black mud * And the jinn We created before from scorching fire } > 7

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