Tazkirul Quran, Qur’an 23:99–104
The Believers (Al-Mu’minun)
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
English text; the translator is not named in the archive’s data.
Translation
(99) When death comes to any of them, he says, ‘My Lord, send me back (100) so that I may do good works in the world I have left behind.’ Never! It is indeed but a meaningless word that he utters. A barrier shall stand behind such people till the Day they are raised up again. (101) When the trumpet is blown, on that Day there will be no ties of relationship between them; neither will they ask about one another: (102) then those whose scales weigh heavy with good works will be successful. (103) But those whose scales weigh light will have ruined their souls; in Hell will they abide. (104) The Fire will scorch their faces and they will abide therein with their faces distorted.
Commentary
(a) As soon as man dies, he is separated from the present world and reaches a point of no-return.
Now, he realises that the life Hereafter, which he had hitherto ignored, was in fact the real target in life. The possessions of the pre-death period were for the purpose of earning credit towards the life Hereafter and not as ends in themselves. So, after death, he will immediately want to be sent back to this world. But this will not be possible, because in accordance with the creation plan of God, every man is given only one chance.
In the present world man relies on his friends and relatives, but on Judgement Day he will be all alone. There, only his good deeds will be of avail. Nothing else will save him.