The Second Chance

the first death and then this life 

قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَمَتَّنَا ٱثْنَتَيْنِ وَأَحْيَيْتَنَا ٱثْنَتَيْنِ فَٱعْتَرَفْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا فَهَلْ إِلَىٰ خُرُوجٍۢ مِّن سَبِيلٍۢ ١١

They will say, "Our Lord, You made us lifeless twice and gave us life twice, and we have confessed our sins. So is there to an exit any way?"

— Saheeh International

They will say, “Our Lord, You gave us death twice and You gave us life twice. Now we confess our sins. So, is there any way to come out of here?”

— T. Usmani

ذَٰلِكُم بِأَنَّهُۥٓ إِذَا دُعِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُۥ كَفَرْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِۦ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ فَٱلْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ ٱلْعَلِىِّ ٱلْكَبِيرِ ١٢

[They will be told], "That is because, when Allāh was called upon alone, you disbelieved; but if others were associated with Him, you believed. So the judgement is with Allāh, the Most High, the Grand."

— Saheeh International

(The reply will be, “No.) This is because whenever Allah alone was invoked, you used to disbelieve, and if partners were associated with Him, you used to believe. Now the decision lies with Allah, the High, the Great.”

— T. Usmani

[Al-Quran 40:11-12]

The Quran informs us that we have been given life twice. This is our second chance. We are here on probation. We have been given another chance to accept Allah as the One and Only God, and submit to His Deen (Religion, Law of Recompense), sincerely. 

So, how do we know that this life is our second chance? We were dead before we were given this life. After this life, we will be returned to Allah: 

كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَٰتًۭا فَأَحْيَـٰكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ٢٨

How can you disbelieve in Allāh when you were lifeless and He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you [back] to life, and then to Him you will be returned.

— Saheeh International

“How is it that you deny Allah, while you were lifeless and He gave you life; then He will make you die, and then He will make you live again, and then to Him you will be returned?

— T. Usmani

[Al-Quran 2:28]

Moreover, The Quran also informs us about the Ratified Covenant taken from the Prophets (Q33:7). The last two ayaat of the same surah (Q33:72-73) inform us of a Trust that the Human undertook, a Trust which was offered to the Skies, the Earth, and the Mountains, but they were afraid to undertake. That is the reason why the hypocrites and the polytheists must be punished: 

إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا ٱلْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ ظَلُومًۭا جَهُولًۭا ٧٢

Indeed, We offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, and they declined to bear it and feared it; but man [undertook to] bear it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant.

— Saheeh International

We did offer the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear its burden and were afraid of it, and man picked it up. Indeed he is unjust (to himself), unaware (of the end).

— T. Usmani

لِّيُعَذِّبَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَٱلْمُشْرِكَـٰتِ وَيَتُوبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۢا ٧٣

[It[1] was] so that Allāh may punish the hypocrite men and hypocrite women and the men and women who associate others with Him and that Allāh may accept repentance from the believing men and believing women. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.

— Saheeh International

The result (of all this) is that Allah will punish the hypocrites, men and women, and the Mushriks, men and women, and will accept the repentance of the believing men and women. Surely Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.

— T. Usmani

[Al-Quran 33:72-73]

The Quran also informs us that Allah is generating the evidence, for/against us, through trials in this life: 

أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ٢

Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?

— Saheeh International

Do people think that they will be left (at ease) only on their saying, “We believe” and will not be put to any test?

— T. Usmani

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ ٣

But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allāh will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.

— Saheeh International

Indeed We have tested those who were before them. So Allah will surely know the ones who are truthful, and He will surely know the liars.

— T. Usmani

[Al-Quran 29:2-3] 

Allah is the Real King, to whom truly belongs the Kingdom of Skies and Earth and all in between.  A King owns His Realm, and governs His Realm. The King decrees Laws to maintain His Kingdom. Those who keep the Law are law-abiding citizens. Those who do not keep the Law are criminals. Crime must be eliminated for the purpose of peace. A Peaceful Realm flourishes with the blessings of The King. Allah will declare Peace upon the Inhabitants of Gardens of the Hereafter. For the purpose of Peace, the criminals will be contained in the Fires of the Hereafter.   

۞ قُلْ إِنِّى نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَمَّا جَآءَنِىَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ مِن رَّبِّى وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُسْلِمَ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٦٦

Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, I have been forbidden to worship those you call upon besides Allāh once the clear proofs have come to me from my Lord, and I have been commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds."

— Saheeh International

Say, “I have been ordered not to worship those whom you invoke beside Allah when clear signs from my Lord have (already) come to me, and I have been ordered that I should submit to the Lord of the worlds.”

— T. Usmani

[Al-Quran 40:66]

The Quran speaks about the purpose of creation of death and life, which is to test who is the best in deeds (Q67:1-2). The Quran also informs us that all the progeny of the sons of Adam were taken out of their backs, and made to testify upon their nafs  that Allah is their Rabb (Lord Sustainer) (Q7:172-175). Each nafs is in pledge for what it earns. There was a time when the nafs of both Adam and his wife was in a state of Nur. This was before Adam's Fall. Since then, the nafs of each one of us is in Zulm (darkness). We cannot see it, and we cannot locate it. We know it is there. We know it desires. We know it whispers. We know it commands. We know it inclines towards sin. We know we need to control it. We have been given guidance about it. If we heed to Allah's guidance, He promises to restore our nafs to its original state of Nur. We cannot enter the Gardens of the Hereafter without our nafs reinstalled in our body and restored to its state of Nur. Those who lose their nafs on the Day of Judgement will lose their families and be made to enter the Fires of the Hereafter. That is the clear loss. 

We have a choice: 

• do we want citizenship of the Gardens of Eternity, inheritance of the Gardens of Eternity, restoration of health and wealth, and an honourable place in the The True King's Realm? 

          or

• do we want to lose our freedom and our inheritance, lose our health and wealth, and be chained and imprisoned forever in the Fires of Eternity? 

There is no compulsion. We are free to choose. Our Eternity depends on whether we choose to submit to The True King, and be protected from the Fire of Eternity by Allah, or do we choose the clear loss? 

قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصًۭا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ ١١

Say, “I am commanded to worship Allah, being sincerely devoted to Him ˹alone˺.

وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ ١٢

And I am commanded to be the first of those who submit ˹to His Will˺.”

قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّى عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍۢ ١٣

Say, “I truly fear—if I were to disobey my Lord—the torment of a tremendous Day.”

قُلِ ٱللَّهَ أَعْبُدُ مُخْلِصًۭا لَّهُۥ دِينِى ١٤

Say, “It is ˹only˺ Allah that I worship, being sincere in my devotion to Him.

فَٱعْبُدُوا۟ مَا شِئْتُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ أَلَا ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْخُسْرَانُ ٱلْمُبِينُ ١٥

Worship then whatever ˹gods˺ you want instead of Him.” Say, “The ˹true˺ losers are those who will lose themselves and their families on Judgment Day. That is indeed the clearest loss.”

لَهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ ظُلَلٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَمِن تَحْتِهِمْ ظُلَلٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يُخَوِّفُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ عِبَادَهُۥ ۚ يَـٰعِبَادِ فَٱتَّقُونِ ١٦

They will have layers of fire above and below them. That is what Allah warns His servants with. So fear Me, O  My servants!

[Al-Quran 39:11-16, Translation: Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran]

...

Time, and the Passing of Time 

Looking up the occurrence of the translation 'twice', and use of its Arabic root, it seems to lend meanings to both time and passing:

• Where the Believer is granted permission to divorce his wife, he has a right to revert his decision for two passages of time. If the decision is not taken back before the third period expires, the divorce is finalised. Upon completion of the third and final period, she must leave his home. The marriage contract which they had ratified becomes void. The nikah is annulled. He is no longer her 'qawwam'. He does not have any financial or protection responsibilities towards her, with the exception of if she is carrying his baby.  
• The bani Israel did great corruption in the Earth twice, and were punished twice, before the revelation of The Quran. They were the chosen people. They had ratified a covenant with Allah. They were granted The Torah. They were given The Ten Commandments. They were shown many miracles.  

... 

The triliteral root mīm wāw tā (م و ت) occurs 165 times in the Quran. 

The triliteral root ḥā yā yā (ح ي ي) occurs 184 times in the Quran. 

Also read: 

https://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-covenant-its-ratification.html  

... 

Last updated on: March 7, 2025

Non-Living & Living

Abstract 

Non-living and living are states of being! Our Ever-Living Creator has created these alternate states of existence. We exist in death as much as we exist in life. 

Full Text 

كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتًا فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

How can you refuse to acknowledge God, seeing that you were lifeless and He gave you life, and that He will cause you to die and then will bring you again to life, whereupon unto Him you will be brought back?

[Al-Quran 2:28, Translation: Muhammad Asad]

Scientists classify things into living and non-living things. Rather, non-living and living are states of being! Our Ever-Living Creator has created these alternate states of existence. 

In Surah al-Mulk, the purpose of these alternate states of existence is explained: 

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ

Blessed is Causes to flourish He in Whose hand is the kingdom, and He has power over all things,

Who created death and life that He may try you-- which of you is best in deeds; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving,

[Al-Quran 67:1-2, Translation: Shakir; edited in italics]

Death is a creation as much as Life is a creation. Life has been given for the purpose of testing... 

We exist in death as much as we exist in life. However, in life, a person exists and can flourish, in different ways, and in varying degrees. This flourishing is in Allah's hand to whom belongs The Kingdom. Whenever Allah wills, he can decrease, cease and reverse the flourishing state to a state of slow decline, death and disintegration: 

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَهْلَكَنِيَ اللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِيَ أَوْ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ الْكَافِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

قُلْ هُوَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ آمَنَّا بِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِين

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَاءٍ مَّعِينٍ

Say thou: bethink ye if Allah destroy me and those with me; or have mercy on us, who will protect the infidels from a torment afflictive?

Say thou: He is the Compassionate; in Him we have believed, and in Him we have put our trust. -And anon ye will know who it is that is in error manifest.

Say thou: bethink ye, were your water to be sunk away, who then could bring you water welling-up? 

[Al-Quran 67:28-30, Translation: Abdul Majid Daryabadi]  

A major difference between non-living and living things is the welling-up of water inside each living cell which provides the medium for a living thing to exist, function and flourish! Dehydration leads to death, that is, transition into the non-living state. Death comes when decreed, and after death the body generally loses water and perishes. Though I've retained the word 'destroy' in the above translation, I think a clearer translation of (أَهْلَكَنِيَ) should be 'causes me to perish'.  

The Inhabitants of The Tombs  

The Quran is quite clear that humans are created from dust. Dust can and does exist is both non-living and living states. We were lifeless; we have been granted a temporal life, and we continue to exist in death as well. Surah al-Mumtahinah concludes thus: 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَوَلَّوْا قَوْمًا غَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ قَدْ يَئِسُوا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ كَمَا يَئِسَ الْكُفَّارُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْقُبُورِ

You who believe, do not patronize any folk whom God has become angry with; they despair of the Hereafter just as disbelievers despair of the inhabitants of tombs.

[Al-Quran 60:13, Translation: T. B. Irving]  

O you who believe! do not make friends with a people with whom Allah is wroth; indeed they despair of the hereafter as the unbelievers despair of those in tombs.

[Al-Quran 60:13, Translation: Shakir]  

Believers do not take as allies those with whom God is angry. They have despaired of the Hereafter, as unbelievers despair of those buried in their graves.

[Al-Quran 60:13, Translation: Safi Kaskas]  

The Barrier

لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّا إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا وَمِن وَرَائِهِم بَرْزَخٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

Haply I may do good in that which I have left. By no means! it is a (mere) word that he speaks; and before them is a barrier until the day they are raised.

[Al-Quran 23:100, Translation: Safi Kaskas]  

There exists a barrier between the realms of the non-living and living, such that once this temporal life ends, the dead cannot return to this life. 

Communicating with the Non-Living 

وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْأَحْيَاءُ وَلَا الْأَمْوَاتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُسْمِعُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَمَا أَنتَ بِمُسْمِعٍ مَّن فِي الْقُبُورِ

Neither are the living and the dead alike. Surely Allah makes whom He pleases hear, and you cannot make those hear who are in the graves.

[Al-Quran 35:22, Translation: Shakir]  

The non-living and the living cannot communicate with each other. We humans cannot make the dead listen to what we want to say to them. Yet, Allah can make them listen! The non-living state is a state of existence! 

The Life

وَمَا هَٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ وَإِنَّ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ لَهِيَ الْحَيَوَانُ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ

And this life of the world is nothing but a sport and a play; and as for the next abode, that most surely is the life-- did they but know!

[Al-Quran 29:64, Translation: Shakir]  

Last edited on: September 9, 2019

The Creation & Emergence of Species

Abstract 

The creation and emergence of species as described in The Quran. 

Full Text 

ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَاعْبُدُوهُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ 

That (is) Allah your Lord, (there is) no god except Him, (the) Creator (of) every thing, so worship Him. And He (is) on every thing a Guardian. 

[Al-Quran 6:102]

The scriptural and scientific history have many parallels and overlaps: 

• water was sent to this planet before any life could appear on it; 
• the plants preceded animal life; 
• ectotherms appeared before endotherms; 

Creation of Species 

Allah, the one and only God, is not only the creator of everything, but also perfect in His ability to create. He made good everything He created: 

الَّذِي أَحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهُ وَبَدَأَ خَلْقَ الْإِنسَانِ مِن طِينٍ

The One Who made good every thing He created, and He began (the) creation (of) man from clay.

[Al-Quran 32:7]

The species were created and blessed to flourish before the Universe as we know it came into existence, after which they have emerged on the planet as preordained:  

قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُ أَندَادًا ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ مِن فَوْقِهَا وَبَارَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَا أَقْوَاتَهَا فِي أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ سَوَاءً لِّلسَّائِلِينَ

ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَهِيَ دُخَانٌ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ائْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا قَالَتَا أَتَيْنَا طَائِعِينَ

فَقَضَاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَوْحَىٰ فِي كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ أَمْرَهَا وَزَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ وَحِفْظًا ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ

Ask ˹them, O Prophet˺, “How can you disbelieve in the One Who created the earth in two Days? And how can you set up equals with Him? That is the Lord of all worlds.
He placed on the earth firm mountains, standing high, showered His blessings upon it, and ordained ˹all˺ its means of sustenance—totaling four Days exactly—for all who ask.
Then He turned towards the heaven when it was ˹still like˺ smoke, saying to it and to the earth, ‘Submit, willingly or unwillingly.’ They both responded, ‘We submit willingly.’
So He formed the heaven into seven heavens in two Days, assigning to each its mandate. And We adorned the lowest heaven with ˹stars like˺ lamps ˹for beauty˺ and for protection. That is the design of the Almighty, All-Knowing.”

[Al-Quran 41:9-10, Translation: Dr Mustafa Khattab] 

The Quran and The Bible both contain two genesis narratives.

The narrative of The Quran can be categorised into two groups: those ayaat which inform about the great works of Allah; and the other group comprises of the ayaat that use the pronoun We, which inform about the tasks subsequently assigned, by Allah, to some mighty beings in the divine government, who also seem to be the authors of The Quran.

For more on the difference between THE CREATOR  I and THE CREATORS WE, please read the similarly titled section at the bottom of the post: Human: Body or Soul?

Water - the basis of life  

أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Do not see those who disbelieved that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, then We parted them and We made from [the] water every living thing? Then will not they believe?

[Al-Quran 21:30]

وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَابَّةٍ مِّن مَّاءٍ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَىٰ بَطْنِهِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَىٰ رِجْلَيْنِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَىٰ أَرْبَعٍ يَخْلُقُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

And Allah created every moving creature from water. Of them (is a kind) who walks on its belly, and of them (is a kind) who walks on two legs, and of them (is a kind) who walks on four. Allah creates what He wills. Indeed, Allah on every thing (is) All-Powerful.

[Al-Quran 24:45]

It is a well-recognised fact that all known lifeforms are water-based! The double helix occurs in the molecular scale in water clusters and in the DNA of living things. Moreover, the DNA molecule itself is surrounded with water and would not be able to function in the absence of water. Also consider: 

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ
...
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَاءٍ مَّعِينٍ

Blessed is He in Whose Hand (is) the Dominion, and He (is) over every thing All-Powerful.
The One Who created death and life that He may test you, which of you (is) best (in) deed. And He (is) the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.
...
Say, "Have you seen, if becomes your water sunken, then who could bring you water flowing?"

[Al-Quran 67:1,2,...30]

...

Say thou: bethink ye, were your water to be sunk away, who then could bring you water welling-up? 

[Al-Quran 67:30, Translation: Abdul Majid Daryabadi]  

A major difference between non-living and living things is the welling-up of water inside each living cell which provides the medium for a living thing to exist, function and flourish! Dehydration leads to death, that is, transition into the non-living state.  

Emergence of Life  

يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَيُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَكَذَٰلِكَ تُخْرَجُونَ

He brings forth the living from the dead and He brings forth the dead from the living, and He gives life (to) the earth after its death, and thus you will be brought forth.

[Al-Quran 30:19]

وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمُ الْأَرْضُ الْمَيْتَةُ أَحْيَيْنَاهَا وَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهَا حَبًّا فَمِنْهُ يَأْكُلُونَ
وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا جَنَّاتٍ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ وَفَجَّرْنَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْعُيُونِ
لِيَأْكُلُوا مِن ثَمَرِهِ وَمَا عَمِلَتْهُ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَفَلَا يَشْكُرُونَ

And a Sign for them (is) the earth dead. We give it life and We bring forth from it grain, and from it they eat. And We placed therein gardens of date-palms and grapevines, and We caused to gush in it of the springs, That they may eat of its fruit. And not made it their hands. So will not they be grateful?

[Al-Quran 36:33-35] 

Flora & Fauna   

وَهُوَ الَّذِي مَدَّ الْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنْهَارًا وَمِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ جَعَلَ فِيهَا زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And He (is) the One Who spread the earth, and placed in it firm mountains and rivers, and from all (of) the fruits He made in it pairs two. He covers the night (with) the day. Indeed, in that surely (are) Signs for a people who ponder. 

[Al-Quran 13:3]

وَالْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَّوْزُونٍ

And the earth, We have spread it and [We] cast therein firm mountains and [We] caused to grow therein of every thing well-balanced.

[Al-Quran 15:19]

الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّن نَّبَاتٍ شَتَّىٰ 

The One Who made for you the earth (as) a bed and inserted for you therein ways, and sent down from the sky water, then We (have) brought forth with it, pairs of plants diverse. 

[Al-Quran 20:53] 

Scientists are now theorising that water on Earth predates the formation of the Solar System, has celestial origins and must have been delivered to Earth. 

  

Fire from Green Trees  

Interestingly the Arabic words for gardens & jinns share the same root: ج ن ن
The Quran states that the jinns were created from fire; and fire has been made from green plants: 

الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ الشَّجَرِ الْأَخْضَرِ نَارًا فَإِذَا أَنتُم مِّنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ

The One Who made for you from the tree [the] green - fire, and behold! You from it ignite. 

[Al-Quran 36:80] 

أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِي تُورُونَ

أَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَا أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنشِئُونَ

Do you see the Fire, which you ignite?
Is it you who produced its tree or We (are) the Producers?

[Al-Quran 56:71-72]

Animals 

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ

And not [of] any animal in the earth and not a bird (that) flies with its wings - but (are) communities like you. We have not neglected in the Book [of] anything, then to their Lord they will be gathered. 

[Al-Quran 6:38] 

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِّمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَا أَنْعَامًا فَهُمْ لَهَا مَالِكُونَ

وَذَلَّلْنَاهَا لَهُمْ فَمِنْهَا رَكُوبُهُمْ وَمِنْهَا يَأْكُلُونَ

وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا مَنَافِعُ وَمَشَارِبُ أَفَلَا يَشْكُرُونَ

Do not they see that We [We] created for them from what have made Our hands, cattle, then they [for them] (are the) owners?
And We have tamed them for them, so some of them - they ride them, and some of them they eat.
And for them therein (are) benefits and drinks, so (will) not they give thanks? 

[Al-Quran 36:71-73]

وَفِي خَلْقِكُمْ وَمَا يَبُثُّ مِن دَابَّةٍ آيَاتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ

وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن رِّزْقٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ آيَاتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ

And in your creation and what He disperses of (the) moving creatures (are) Signs for a people who are certain. 

And (in the) alternation (of) the night and the day and what Allah sends down from the sky of (the) provision and gives life thereby (to) the earth after its death, and (in) directing (the) winds (are) Signs for a people who reason. 

[Al-Quran 45:4-5]  

Jinns & Humans 

خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ

وَخَلَقَ الْجَانَّ مِن مَّارِجٍ مِّن نَّارٍ

He created the man from clay like the pottery.
And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.

[Al-Quran 55:14-15]

Based upon the ability of organisms to internally produce heat or depend upon external sources to regulate their body temperature, they are classified as endotherms and ectotherms: endotherms such as humans thermoregulate their body temperature; ectotherms, on the other hand, depend on their environment to heat or cool down their bodies, such as snakes and other reptiles. 

The Age of Reptiles

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ

وَالْجَانَّ خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن قَبْلُ مِن نَّارِ السَّمُومِ

And verily, We created humankind (out) of sounding clay from black mud altered.

And the jinn We created it before from fire scorching.

[Al-Quran 15:26-27] 

The Quran states that in this world the jinns were created before humans. Jinns, I understand, are Snakes, as discussed in detail in جَانٌّ (Snake || Jinn). According to fossil records, the reptiles appeared on the Earth much before the mammals.


The Age of Man 

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ فَلَمَّا أَنبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ
وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
قُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

He (is) the One Who created for you what (is) in the earth, all. Then, He turned to the heaven and fashioned them into seven heavens. And He of every thing (is) All-Knowing.
And when said your Lord to the angels, "Indeed, I (am) going to place in the earth a vicegerent, they said, "Will You place in it (one) who will spread corruption in it and will shed [the] blood[s], while we, [we] glorify (You) with Your praises and we sanctify [to] He said, "Indeed, [I] know what not you know."
And He taught Adam the names - all of them. Then He displayed them to the angels, then He said, "Inform of (the) names (of) these, if you are truthful."
They said, "Perfect are You! No knowledge (is) for us except what You have taught us. Indeed You! You (are) the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
He said, "O Adam! Inform them of their names." And when he had informed them of their names, He said, "Did not I say to you, Indeed, I [I] know (the) unseen (of) the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you have been concealing."
And when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," [so] they prostrated except Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
And We said, "O Adam! Dwell you and your spouse (in) Paradise, and [you both] eat from it freely (from) wherever you [both] wish. But do not [you two] approach this [the] tree, lest you [both] be of the wrongdoers."
Then made [both of] them slip the Shaitaan from it, and he got [both of] them out from what they [both] were in [it]. And We said, "Go down (all of you), some of you to others (as) enemy; and for you in the earth (is) a dwelling place and a provision for a period."
Then received Adam from his Lord words, So (his Lord) turned towards him. Indeed He! He (is) the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Most Merciful.
We said, "Go down from it all (of you), and when, comes to you from Me Guidance, then whoever follows My Guidance, [then] no fear (will be) on them and not they will grieve.
And those who disbelieve[d] and deny Our Signs, those (are the) companions (of) the Fire; they in it (will) abide forever."

[Al-Quran 2:29-39, Translation edited] 

There is some back story to 'I know what you reveal and what you have been concealing'. Adam, the primate, was created, bestowed knowledge (including what the angels thought they were concealing from God?), and made the dominant specie, so that the humans would henceforth be entrusted to rule with justice and compassion on Earth:

 يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا نَسُوا يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ

وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَاطِلًا ذَٰلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنَ النَّارِ

أَمْ نَجْعَلُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَالْمُفْسِدِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَمْ نَجْعَلُ الْمُتَّقِينَ كَالْفُجَّارِ

كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ

"O Dawood! Indeed, We [We] have made you a vicegerent in the earth, so judge between [the] men in truth and (do) not follow the desire, for it will lead you astray from (the) way (of) Allah. Indeed, those who go astray from (the) way (of) Allah, for them (is) a punishment severe because they forgot (the) Day (of) Account."
And not We created the heaven and the earth and whatever (is) between them without purpose. That (is the) assumption (of) those who disbelieve. So woe to those who disbelieve, from the Fire.
Or should We treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like those who spread corruption in the earth? Or should We treat the pious like the wicked?
(This is) a Book We have revealed it to you, blessed, that they may ponder (over) its Verses and may be reminded those of understanding.

[Al-Quran 38:26-29] 

Service & Accountability 

وَجَعَلُوا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجِنَّةِ نَسَبًا وَلَقَدْ عَلِمَتِ الْجِنَّةُ إِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ

And they have made between Him and between the jinn a relationship, but certainly, know the jinn that they (will) surely be brought.

[Al-Quran 37:158]

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

And not I have created the jinn and the mankind except that they worship Me.

[Al-Quran 51:56]

إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَنَهَرٍ
فِي مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ

Indeed, the righteous (will be) in gardens and river,
In a seat (of) honor near a King Most Powerful.

[Al-Quran 54:54-55]

-----------

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ هُوَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ الرَّحِيمُ

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

هُوَ اللَّهُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِئُ الْمُصَوِّرُ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

He (is) Allah, the One Who, (there is) no god but He, (the) All-Knower (of) the unseen and the witnessed. He (is) the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
He (is) Allah, the One Who, (there is) no god but He, the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Giver of Peace, the Giver of Security, the Guardian, the All-Mighty, the Irresistible, the Supreme. Glory (be to) Allah from what they associate (with Him).
He (is) Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner. For Him (are) the names the beautiful. Glorifies Him whatever (is) in the heavens and the earth. And He (is) the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

[Al-Quran 59:22-24]

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Last updated on: December 7, 2020

Organ Harvesting & Organ Transplant

Murder & Corruption    

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ الْقَيِّمِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصَّدَّعُونَ

مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ

لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

[Q30:43 - 45] So set your face to the religion right, before [that] comes a Day not (can be) averted [it] from Allah. That Day, they will be divided. Whoever disbelieves, then against him (is) his disbelief. And whoever does righteousness, then for themselves they are preparing, That He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds (out) of His Bounty. Indeed, He (does) not like the disbelievers. 

1.     What is The Right Religion?
The phrase ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ (The Right Religion) has been used in Q9:36, Q12:40, Q30:30 & in Q98:5 as وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ in the Quran. Q30:43 quoted above commands us to فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ الْقَيِّمِ   (So set your face to the religion right). Q30:30 informs us that one of the decrees of The Right Religion is that there should be no change in the creation of Allah, especially humans.  
Q4:119 informs us that Satan has vowed to mislead bani Adam, and one of his misleading commands is to change the creation of Allah.
Satan knows that mortals desire immortality, therefore he effectively uses longevity/immortality as a promise to lead humans into error. He used it with Adam, and he has used it with many mighty civilisations, causing them to wrong their NAFS.     

2.     How / when are organs harvested?  
Current technology requires that organs be harvested from the body while the person is still on the ventilator, which means the person is still breathing. When doctors think that they can no longer save a patient, the patient is evaluated for brain death. If the patient is found to be brain dead, organs are harvested. Legally, organs can be harvested according to the will of the patient, if he/she has pledged his/her organs, or with the permission of his/her family. Also read Organ Trade for related issues. 
Though 'a brain dead donor is preferred, but only a small percentage of deaths are brain deaths. Therefore, the majority of human organ sources are post cardiac death', while there is at least still some brain activity. 

3.     Is a brain-dead person dead?
Not always. There have been cases where a patient who has been declared brain-dead is removed from the ventilator but continues to breathe and live on for sometime.

4.     When we die, do we no longer need the body?
According to The Bible and The Quran, we are made of dust. This means that we are the body. When we die, we stop living and transfer to the realm of the dead. Death is a subsequent stage, a state of being. We know very little about that realm, but The Quran informs us that the dead exist in an alternate state of being.
   

5.     What happens to the soul?
The popular concept regarding the soul is not rooted in the scriptures. According to the Quran, we are our body and we have a NAFS. Please read Human: Body or Soul? for details.
   

6.     When the NAFS is removed from the body at the time of death, why is it then not okay to harvest organs from a dead body?
As mentioned above, we are the body!
Q39:42 informs us that the NAFS is removed from the body every time we fall asleep; would it be okay to harvest organs of a person while he/she is asleep?
   

7.     If the NAFS is the software and contains all the information needed to resurrect us, then why is the body important?
According to some ayaat of The Quran, it seems that the same earth that perishes from our dead body will be used to resurrect us. Please read the section titled Body in Human: Body or Soul? for details.

8.     Saving human life is important, in fact an ayat of the Quran states that saving a single life is like saving all humans. Organ transplants save lives. Isn’t it a good deed?  
The ayat is Q5:32. The same ayat also contains the exception clause 'he who kills a soul other than (for) a soul or (for) spreading corruption in the earth then (it) is as if he has killed all [the] mankind'.  

i)              When organs of a patient declared brain-dead are harvested, there is no sure way of knowing if the person is already dead or the harvesting of vital organs will result in the death of the patient.   

ii)             When an organ is transplanted into a patient, the body is being corrupted with a part of another person. This includes the hardware or physical material (dust), as well as the software (DNA). This is in violation of Q30:30 which clearly forbids change in the creation of Allah. Q91:7-10 emphasizes the importance of purifying the NAFS. It is already suffering the corruption caused as a consequence of the error of Adam. By adhering to The Right Religion, we can hope that Allah will correct and purify us on the Day of Judgment.

9.     How about growing organs specifically for the purpose of transplants?
Allah creates in the womb as He wills. In The Quran, there is mention of three unusual cases of conception. Abraham and his wife, Zechariah & his wife, and the Virgin Mary. In all three cases, they have not been directed to take any particular treatment/medical intervention; rather they have been told that Allah’s command will be done.
In Q4:1, we have been cautioned to keep our duty regarding the womb.  The Quran mentions the womb along with corruption as in Q47:22. The womb must to be guarded from corruption. 
Harvesting organ from an entity grown specifically for the purpose would entail some form of medical intervention to grow such an entity, as well as eventually killing the entity to harvest the organ. That would be a major crime in itself. 

10.  How about non-human organs?
Transplanting a non-human organ will also result in corruption.

11.  Why is this corruption a bad thing if it saves lives? 
Allah creates perfectly. He has decreed mortality in this life, and promises immortality in the Hereafter. Adam erred in his pursuit of immortality. The Quran specifically warns against making changes in the NAFS. Every civilization that made changes in their NAFS was punished, except the people of Jonah. Please read Wronging the NAFS. 

قُلْ إِنَّنِي هَدَانِي رَبِّي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

[Q6:161-163] Say, "Indeed (as for) me, has guided me my Lord to a straight path - a religion right, religion (of) Ibrahim - a true monotheist. And not he was from the polytheists. Say, "Indeed, my prayer, and my rites of sacrifice, and my living, and my dying (are) for Allah, Lord (of) the worlds. No partners for Him; and with that I have been commanded. And I am (the) first (of) the ones who surrender (to Him). 

Few years ago, when I neither understood the science nor knew the directives of the religion, I pledged my organs. Now, all thanks to Allah for having guided me in the matter, I have unpledged my organs. I have also informed my family and friends that, Allah forbid, if such a situation arises, please do not transplant any organs into me. 

إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

[Q25:70] Except (he) who repents and believes and does righteous deeds, then (for) those Allah will replace their evil deeds (with) good ones. And is Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. 

I know that there are many people who have pledged their organs, and some are also earnestly working for the cause, sincerely assuming it to be a good deed. May Allah guide us all, enable us to submit to the guidance in The Quran, forgive us and be well-pleased with us. 

List of Related Articles 

         

Further Reading:
Organ Transplantation
Organ Trade

Last updated on August 11, 2017