Surah Al-An'am (The Cattle): Verse 36

Translation and Exegesis

Verse 36: Innamā yastajību alladhīna yasma'ūn, wa-l-mawtā yab'athuhumu Allāhu thumma ilayhi yurja'ūn. (Only those who listen respond, and as for the dead, Allah will resurrect them, then to Him they will be returned.)

Allah (Exalted is He) clarifies the reason why they are incapable of accepting faith and persist in disbelief: they are like the dead who do not hear. Only those who truly listen respond. This is similar to His saying: {Indeed, you cannot make the dead hear} (An-Naml: 80).

Linguistic Note: 'Ali ibn Isa stated that the difference between yastajīb (respond/answer favorably) and yujīb (answer) is that yastajīb implies acceptance of what one is called toward. Yujīb, however, can imply answering with opposition. For example, if someone asks, "Do you agree with this doctrine or oppose it?" the respondent (mujīb) might say, "I oppose."

There are two interpretations regarding this phrase:

1. Analogy of Power: It serves as a metaphor for His power to compel them toward acceptance. It means that just as Allah is capable of resurrecting the dead from their graves on the Day of Judgment, and to Him they will return for recompense, similarly, Allah is capable of reviving the hearts of these disbelievers with the life of faith—a power you (O Prophet) do not possess.
2. Literal Meaning Applied to Disbelievers: The meaning is: "And these dead ones"—referring to the disbelievers—"Allah will resurrect them, then to Him they will be returned." Only then will they hear (the truth), but before that time, there is no way for them to hear. (It is also read with a fatḥa on the yā’ in yurja'ūn [they will be returned]).

Scholarly Reflection: Undoubtedly, a physical body devoid of the spirit exhibits foul odors, pus, and various forms of decay; its best state is to be buried under the earth. Similarly, a spirit devoid of intellect results in a person who is insane, deserving of chains and confinement. Intellect is to the spirit what the spirit is to the body. Furthermore, intellect without knowledge of Allah, His attributes, and obedience to Him is futile and lost. The status of Tawḥīd (Oneness of God) and true knowledge is to the intellect as the intellect is to the spirit, and the spirit is to the body. Knowledge and love of Allah are the spirit of the spirit. Therefore, the soul devoid of this knowledge is characterized by the state of the dead. This is why Allah described those persistent disbelievers as the dead. And Allah knows best.

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{Wa qālū law lā unzila 'alayhi āyatun min rabbih} (And they say, "Why was a sign not sent down to him from his Lord?")

{Qul inna Allāha qādirun 'alā an yunzila āyatan walākinna aktharahum lā ya'lamūn} (Say, "Indeed, Allah is capable of sending down a sign, but most of them do not know.")