DRAFT
And they say, "Not it (is) but our life (of) the world, we die and we live, and not destroys us except the time." And not for them of that any knowledge; not, they (do) but guess.
[Al-Quran 45:24 https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/45/24/]
A couple of ayaat earlier, Surah al-Jathiya ayat 22, mentions that the purpose of creation is to recompense every nafs for what it has earned. The next ayat (Q45:23) mentions those who have taken their desires as their gods. Denial of accountability frees them to follow their desires.
The deniers of resurrection and accountability refuse to believe. They attribute non-existence and existence, death and life, to natural processes which are time bound. The truth of the matter is that nobody comprehends death, nor does anyone even know what is the nature of time. We can measure time, as the physical distance between two events, but nobody really understands time. Apparently, it is but a physical distance, a dimension, one in which we can’t seem to travel in reverse gear.
Living creatures generally appear to rot and decay, till they disintegrate and become dust and bones. However, there are reports of well-preserved bodies, who were buried without any mummification, yet they did not suffer decay. There are also reports of some pagan religious leaders whose body did not deteriorate for days after they died.
The Quran mentions that the Pharaoh was divinely saved in His body (Q10:92), when he was drowned in the sea, while pursuing Moses. It was a sign. It wasn’t a blessing. It also states that the Pharaoh and his family are cursed in this world, they are shown the fire morning and evening, and on the Day the Hour appears, they will be thrown in the severest of punishment (Q40:46).
In the same surah, Q40:34 mentions that even though Joseph had come with clear proofs earlier, after he perished (هَلَكَ) the people stopped expecting the Messenger that he had prophesied about.
Q28:41 states that Pharaoh and his soldiers have been made leaders inviting to the Fire.
It is important to remember these ayaat, lest we be misled by the miraculously preserved bodies of some people, which is taken by people as a sign of sainthood, and thus revered.
Death is a creation (Q67:2), a state of existence, which is not understood. There is a barrier that cannot be crossed(23:100), except once, and in one direction only. Therefore, all theories, scientific or scriptural, cannot be verified. While the believers take the scriptural facts on faith, the scientists are actively researching death, which they consider a disease. They hope to delay its onset, or even cure it someday.
The Quran links longevity with progress and prosperity, clarifying that it is a divine act, and not an outcome of human endeavour:
Holy Quran 21:44
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بَلْ مَتَّعْنَا هَٰؤُلَاءِ وَآبَاءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ طَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعُمُرُ ۗ أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّا نَأْتِي الْأَرْضَ نَنقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا ۚ أَفَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ
But, [on the contrary], We have provided good things for these [disbelievers] and their fathers until life was prolonged for them. Then do they not see that We set upon the land, reducing it from its borders? So it is they who will overcome?
Holy Quran 21:45
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قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُنذِرُكُم بِالْوَحْيِ ۚ وَلَا يَسْمَعُ الصُّمُّ الدُّعَاءَ إِذَا مَا يُنذَرُونَ
Say, "I only warn you by revelation." But the deaf do not hear the call when they are warned.
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