Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Isra Verse 49

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And they say, “Once we are reduced to bones and dust, is it then that we will be raised, created anew?”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And they say ˹mockingly˺, “When we are reduced to bones and ashes, will we really be raised as a new creation?”

Ruwwad Translation Center

They say, “What! When we are turned into bones and dust, will we really be resurrected as a new creation?”

A. J. Arberry

They say, 'What, when we are bones and broken bits, shall we really be raised up again in a new creation?'

Abdul Haleem

They also say, ‘What? When we are turned to bones and dust, shall we really be raised up in a new act of creation?’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And they say: when we shall have become bones and fragments, shall we in sooth be raised as a new creation?

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They say; "What! when we are reduced to bones and dust, should we really be raised up (to be) a new creation?"

Abul Ala Maududi

They say: "When we are turned to bones and particles (of dust), shall we truly be raised up as a new creation?"

Ahmed Ali

Yet they say: "When we are turned to bones and bits, shall we be raised as a new creation?"

Ahmed Raza Khan

And they say, “When we have become bones and decomposed, will we really be raised up anew?”

Ali Quli Qarai

They say, ‘What, when we have become bones and dust, shall we really be raised in a new creation?’

Ali Ünal

And they say: "What! is it when we have already become bones and particles of dust – is it then that we will be raised as a new creation?"

Amatul Rahman Omar

And they (also) say, `What! when we are reduced to bones and (that too) broken particles (of dust) shall we then be really raised again to a new life?´

English Literal

And they said: "Is (it that) if we were bones and debris/fragments/broken pieces are we being resurrected/revived (E) (in) a new creation?"

Faridul Haque

And they say, "When we have become bones and decomposed, will we really be raised up anew?"

Hamid S. Aziz

They say, "What! When we have become bones and dust are we to be raised up a new creature?"

Hilali & Khan

And they say: "When we are bones and fragments (destroyed), should we really be resurrected (to be) a new creation?"

Maulana Mohammad Ali

See, what they liken thee to! So they have gone astray, and cannot find the way.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And they say: What! when we shall have become bones and decayed particles, shall we then certainly be raised up, being a new creation?

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And they say: When we are bones and fragments, shall we forsooth, be raised up as a new creation?

Muhammad Sarwar

The pagans say, "When we become mere bones and dust, shall we then be brought back to life again?"

Qaribullah & Darwish

'What' they say. 'When we are (turned to) bones and broken bits, shall we be raised again in a new creation'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And they say: "When we are bones and fragments (destroyed), should we really be resurrected (to be) a new creation"

Wahiduddin Khan

"What!" they say, "When we are turned to bones and dust, shall we be restored to life?"

Talal Itani

And they say, “When we have become bones and fragments, shall we really be resurrected as a new creation?”

Tafsir jalalayn

And they say, in denial of the Resurrection; `What, when we are bones and fragments, shall we really be raised up in a new creation?'

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Refutation of Those Who do not believe in Life after Death

Allah tells us about the disbelievers who think it very unlikely that the Resurrection will happen;

وَقَالُواْ أَيِذَا كُنَّا عِظَامًا وَرُفَاتًا

And they say;When we are bones and fragments.

meaning earth.

This was the view of Mujahid.

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn Abbas;

it means dust.

أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا



should we really be resurrected (to be) a new creation!

meaning, on the Day of Resurrection after we have disintegrated and become nothing, and have been forgotten.

Allah tells us about them elsewhere;

يَقُولُونَ أَءِنَّا لَمَرْدُودُونَ فِى الْحَـفِرَةِ

أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَـماً نَّخِرَةً

قَالُواْ تِلْكَ إِذاً كَرَّةٌ خَـسِرَةٌ

They say;"Shall we indeed be returned to (our) former state of life even after we are crumbled bones!" They say;"It would in that case, be a return with loss!" (79;10-12)

And,

وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلً وَنَسِىَ خَلْقَهُ

And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. until the end of two Ayat. (36;78-79)

Allah commands His Messenger to respond to them, so He says;

قُل كُونُواْ حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيدًا