Al-Qur'an Surah Al-An'am Verse 36

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Only those respond who listen (to seek the truth). As for the dead, Allah shall raise them, after which they shall be returned to Him.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Only the attentive will respond ˹to your call˺. As for the dead, Allah will raise them up, then to Him they will ˹all˺ be returned.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Only those who listen will respond. As for the dead, Allah will resurrect them, then to Him they will be returned.

A. J. Arberry

Answer only will those who hear; as for the dead, God will raise them up, then unto Him they will be returned.

Abdul Haleem

Only those who can hear will respond; as for the dead, God will raise them up, and to Him they will all be returned.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Only those respond who hearken. And as to the dead, Allah will raise them, and thereafter unto Him they shall be returned.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Those who listen (in truth), be sure, will accept; as to the dead, Allah will raise them up; then will they be turned unto Him.

Abul Ala Maududi

Only they who listen can respond to the call of the Truth; as for the dead, Allah will raise them and then to Him they will be returned.

Ahmed Ali

Only they will respond who can hear. As for the dead, raised they will be by God, then to Him they will be returned.

Ahmed Raza Khan

It is only those who hear (with sincere hearts) that accept faith; and Allah will raise these people dead of heart, then towards Him they will be herded.

Ali Quli Qarai

Only those who listen will respond [to you]. As for the dead, Allah will resurrect them, then they will be brought back to Him.

Ali Ünal

Only they who have the ability to hear can respond (to a call); as for the dead, God will raise them to life, and then to Him they will be returned.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Only those who listen respond (to the truth). And as for the (spiritually) dead Allâh will raise them to life (after their being buried in graves,) they shall then be made to return to Him.

English Literal

But those who hear/listen answer/reply, and the deads, God sends/resurrects/revives them, then to Him they return.

Faridul Haque

It is only those who hear (with sincere hearts) that accept faith; and Allah will raise these people dead of heart, then towards Him they will be herded.

Hamid S. Aziz

They say, "Why has not a sign been sent down from his Lord" Say, "Verily, Allah has power to send down a sign, but most of them do not understand."

Hilali & Khan

It is only those who listen (to the Message of Prophet Muhammad SAW), will respond (benefit from it), but as for the dead (disbelievers), Allah will raise them up, then to Him they will be returned (for their recompense).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And if their turning away is hard on thee, then, if thou canst, seek an opening into the earth or a ladder to heaven, to bring them a sign! And if Allah pleased, He would certainly have gathered them all to guidance, so be not of the ignorant.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Only those accept who listen; and (as to) the dead, Allah will raise them, then to Him they shall be returned.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Only those can accept who hear. As for the dead, Allah will raise them up; then unto Him they will be returned.

Muhammad Sarwar

Only those who have understanding will accept your faith. (Those who have no understanding) are like the dead whom God will resurrect and to Him will all return.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Those who listen will surely answer. As for the dead, Allah will revive them. To Him they shall return.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

It is only those who listen, that will respond, but as for the dead, Allah will raise them up, then to Him they will be returned.

Wahiduddin Khan

Only they who listen can respond to a call; and as for the dead, God will raise them up, and then they will all return to Him.

Talal Itani

Only those who listen will respond. As for the dead, God will resurrect them; then to Him they will be returned.

Tafsir jalalayn

Only those who hear, in such a way so as to understand and take heed, will answer, your call to faith; as for the dead, that is, the disbelievers -- they are likened to them on account of their inability to hear -- God will resurrect them, in the Hereafter, and then to Him they will be returned, and He will requite them for their deeds.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

إِنَّمَا يَسْتَجِيبُ الَّذِينَ يَسْمَعُونَ

It is only those who listen, that will respond,

means, only those who hear the speech, comprehend and understand it, will accept your call, O Muhammad!

In another Ayah, Allah said;

لِّيُنذِرَ مَن كَانَ حَيّاً وَيَحِقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَى الْكَـفِرِينَ

That it may give warning to him who is living, and that the Word may be justified against the disbelievers. (36;70)

Allah's statement,

وَالْمَوْتَى يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللّهُ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ



but as for the dead, Allah will raise them up, then to Him they will be returned.

refers to the disbelievers because their hearts are dead. Therefore, Allah resembled them to dead corpses as a way of mocking and belittling them, saying,
وَالْمَوْتَى يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللّهُ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ
(but as for the dead (disbelievers), Allah will raise them up, then to Him they will be returned (for their recompense)