Tafsir of As-Sajdah 32:10

{And they said, "When we have strayed..."} It is said that the speaker was Ubayy ibn Khalaf, and because they were pleased with his statement, it was attributed to them all.

It is read as: (A-inna) and (A-ana), both with and without the interrogative particle.

{...strayed in the earth} Meaning: We have become dust and vanished, mixed into the earth's soil, indistinguishable from it—just as water is lost in milk—or we have disappeared into the earth through burial. This is derived from the poet’s saying: "And his lost ones returned with a clear eye."

Ali and Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) read it as ḍalilnā (with a kasra on the lam). It is said: ḍalla yaḍillu and ḍalla yaḍillu. Al-Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) read it as ṣalalnā (with a ṣād), from the phrase "the meat has ṣalla," meaning it has become putrid. Others say it means we have become of the same substance as ṣalla, which is the earth.

If you ask: "What governs the adverbial phrase in {When we have strayed}?" I say: It is governed by what is implied in {Are we indeed in a new creation?} (Ar-Ra'd: 5), which is "shall we be resurrected?" or "will our creation be renewed?"

{...the meeting of their Lord} This refers to reaching the final outcome, from the moment of encountering the Angel of Death and what follows. When He mentioned their disbelief in the initial creation, He turned away from it to something more profound in disbelief: that they are disbelievers in everything that occurs in the afterlife, not just the initial creation. Do you not see how they are addressed regarding the taking of their souls by the Angel of Death, and their return to their Lord thereafter, resurrected for reckoning and recompense? This is the meaning of "meeting Allah" as we have described.

{The taking (tawaffī)} This means the complete acquisition of the nafs, which is the soul. Allah the Exalted says: {Allah takes the souls} (Az-Zumar: 42), and {Bring forth your souls} (Al-An'am: 93). It means to seize it entirely, leaving nothing behind. It is like saying, "I took (tawaffaytu) my right from so-and-so," and "I took it in full (istawfaytuhu)," meaning you took it complete and whole without deficiency. The forms tafa''ala and istaf'ala converge in several instances, such as taqaṣṣaytuhu and istaqṣaytuhu (I investigated it thoroughly), and ta'ajjal-tuhu and ista'jal-tuhu (I sought it quickly).

Mujahid (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The earth was made for the Angel of Death like a basin, from which he takes whatever he wishes." Qatadah said: "He takes their souls, and with him are assistants from the angels." It is also said: The Angel of Death calls the souls and they answer him, then he commands his assistants to seize them.

{And if you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord, "Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us [to the world]; we will work righteousness. Indeed, we are [now] certain." * And if We had willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, but the word from Me will come into effect: "I will surely fill Hell with jinn and people all together." * So taste [the punishment] because you forgot the meeting of this Day of yours; indeed, We have forgotten you. And taste the punishment of eternity for what you used to do.}