Life Extension

And when I am ill, then He cures me, [Al-Quran 26:80] 

Disease & Cure - V 

According to The Quran, the length of our life depends on Allah's decree. Each one of us must live out the span of life Allah has determined for us. We can neither live longer, nor die earlier. Consider the following ayaat:

وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ كِتَابًا مُّؤَجَّلًا 

وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الْآخِرَةِ نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا وَسَنَجْزِي الشَّاكِرِينَ

And not is for a soul that he dies except by (the) permission of Allah, (at a) decree determined.

And whoever desires reward (of) the world - We will give him thereof; and whoever desires reward (of) the Hereafter We will give him thereof. And We will reward the grateful ones.

[Al-Quran 3:145]

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوا أَشُدَّكُمْ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُوا شُيُوخًا وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ مِن قَبْلُ وَلِتَبْلُغُوا أَجَلًا مُّسَمًّى وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

He (is) the One Who created you from dust, then from a semen-drop, then from a clinging substance, then He brings you out (as) a child; then lets you reach your maturity, then lets you become old - and among you (is he) who dies before - and lets you reach a term specified, and that you may use reason.

[Al-Quran 40:67]

Surah alBaqarah introduces us to the possiblity of an extended lifespan:

وَلَتَجِدَنَّهُمْ أَحْرَصَ النَّاسِ عَلَىٰ حَيَاةٍ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا

يَوَدُّ أَحَدُهُمْ لَوْ يُعَمَّرُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمُزَحْزِحِهِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ أَن يُعَمَّرَ 

وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ

And surely you will find them (the) most greedy (of) [the] mankind for life, and (greedier) than those who associate[d] partners (with Allah). 

Loves (each) one of them if he could be granted a life (of) a thousand year(s). But not it (will) remove him from the punishment that he should be granted life. 

And Allah (is) All-Seer of what they do.

[Al-Quran 2:96]

Surah alAnbiya  informs us that lifespan increases with progress and prosperity:

بَلْ مَتَّعْنَا هَٰؤُلَاءِ وَآبَاءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ طَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعُمُرُ أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّا نَأْتِي الْأَرْضَ نَنقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا أَفَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ

Nay, We gave provision (to) these and their fathers until grew long for them, the life. Then do not they see that We We come (to) the land, We reduce it from its borders? So is (it) they (who will be) overcoming?

[Al-Quran 21:44]

From Surah alAnkabut, we learn about the long lifespan of Noah: 

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًا فَأَخَذَهُمُ الطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ

And verily, We sent Nuh to his people, and he remained among them a thousand year(s), save fifty year(s), then seized them the flood, while they (were) wrongdoers.

[Al-Quran 29:14]

A life of almost a thousand years must have been the norm, as his people do not seem impressed by his age at all. Yet long life also eventually somehow must come to an end. From Surah anNajm, we learn:

   وَأَنَّهُ أَهْلَكَ عَادًا الْأُولَىٰ

 وَثَمُودَ فَمَا أَبْقَىٰ

 وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ مِّن قَبْلُ 

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا هُمْ أَظْلَمَ وَأَطْغَىٰ

And that He destroyed Aad the first, 

And Thamud, so not He spared,

 And (the) people (of) Nuh before.

Indeed, they they were more unjust and more rebellious.

[Al-Quran 53:50-52]

Links to posts in the series Disease and Cure