What is the meaning of 'neither die therein nor live' in the Quran?

According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir, this phrase in Quran 87:13 describes the state of eternal dwellers in Hell. They will not die to find rest from the torment, nor will they live a life that has any benefit or comfort; their consciousness exists only to experience perpetual punishment.

Is there death in Hell in Islam?

For the eternal inhabitants of Hell (the disbelievers), the Quran and authentic Hadith state they will not be given the relief of death. This state of 'neither dying nor living' is a form of their punishment. However, some traditions mention that sinful believers may experience a temporary death after their purification before entering Paradise.

What is the 'Great Fire' mentioned in Surah Al-A'la?

Classical commentators like Al-Qurtubi explain that the 'Great Fire' (an-nār al-kubrā) mentioned in Quran 87:12 is the Fire of the Hereafter, Hellfire (Jahannam). It is described as being vastly more intense than any fire in this world, designated for the most wretched who reject divine guidance.

Quran 87:13 Explained: The State of Neither Living nor Dying in Hell

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🕋Al-A'la87:13

At a Glance

According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the Quranic phrase 'Then he will neither die therein nor live' (Surah Al-A'la, 87:13) describes the eternal state of the most wretched inhabitants of the Great Fire. Tafsir Ibn Kathir explains this is not a contradictory statement but a profound depiction of ultimate suffering: the soul will not be allowed to perish to find rest from the torment, nor will it experience a life with any form of peace, benefit, or comfort. Al-Qurtubi and other commentators affirm this describes a perpetual, conscious existence solely for the purpose of experiencing the consequences of disbelief. This state of an eternal stalemate—devoid of the relief of death and the value of life—serves as one of the most severe warnings in the Quran regarding the fate of those who reject divine guidance, highlighting the absolute nature of justice in the Hereafter.

📖 Quranic Context

It is a powerful and specific depiction of the nature of punishment for the 'most wretched' (al-ashqā) in the 'Great Fire' (an-nār al-kubrā).

This state illustrates the ultimate consequence of rejecting divine guidance, highlighting the severity of Allah's justice and the complete absence of relief or hope for those in this state.

References: The concept is specifically mentioned in Surah Al-A'la, verse 13.

💭 Theological Perspective

N/A - This state is specific to the Hereafter.

The concept represents a state of eternal psychological torment, where the hope for the relief of death or the comfort of a meaningful life is permanently removed.

Serves as a stark warning within the Quran, intended to motivate believers towards righteousness and repentance to avoid such a fate.

Contemplating this state is meant to increase one's Taqwa (God-consciousness) and appreciation for Allah's mercy.

📜 Hadith Perspective

A hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad from Abu Sa`id states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'As for the people of the Fire who are its inhabitants, they will not die nor will they live.'

The eternity and severity of Hellfire for its permanent dwellers.
The distinction between the fate of unrepentant disbelievers and sinful believers who may be purified in the Fire.

Scholars unanimously agree that this verse describes the state of the disbelievers who are condemned to Hell for eternity.

💎 Deeper Insights

The state of 'neither living nor dying' represents the 'Eternal Stalemate of Suffering.' It's not just pain, but the removal of all possibility of change. Death is a transformation, and life implies potential. This state is an eternal, unchanging present moment of agony, a spiritual and existential prison from which there is no escape, not even into nothingness. It highlights that the greatest punishment is the death of hope itself.

— Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi