Commentary
And when he mentioned the noblest of death; beginning with its noblest aspect; he mentioned what is below it; beginning with its least; and he said: ﴿And if you die or are killed﴾; meaning: in whichever way it may be; according to what has been decreed upon you in eternity; ﴿To Allah﴾; meaning: the One who takes your soul; none other than Him; and He is the Lord of Glory and Honor; who is to be worshipped for His own sake; and it indicated His greatness; after the indication by the greatest name; by constructing for the unknown; and he said: ﴿You will be gathered﴾; so if that death; or killing is in obedience to Him; He will reward you; otherwise, He will punish you; and the reality is that there is no way to avert death in any of the states; whether killing; or otherwise; nor in the gathering to Him - glorified and exalted is He -; and as for the salvation from the horror of that day; there is a way through obedience; and Allah - glorified and exalted is He - is the one who grants success; and how good is what 'Antarah said in this regard! And he is [UNTRANSLATED-LATIN: jahiliyyah]; so the believer is more deserving than him of something like this:
The calamities frighten me as if I have become Separated from the purpose of calamities.
So I answered her: Indeed, death is a source From which I must drink from the cup of the source.
So restrain your shyness, may you not have a father, and know That I am a man who will die if I am not killed.
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