The first verse speaks about those who have died in the way of God. Some people with weak

Express regret that these people (martyrs) have died and have achieved nothing. The Qura’n addresses the Messenger of God (to admonish these disbelievers) and says:

“Do not think of those who are killed in the way of God as dead. No they are alive with their Lord and have provision.”

The Qura’n dispels the wrong belief the people had about death and especially of those who died in the way of God and said that they are under God’s mercy and send their message to their living family not to grieve for them because they are at peace and ease.

This verse is the proof of the well being of the soul and then it proves the better life the martyrs enjoy in the hereafter.

If death completes the human life then this verse and even the statement about the martyrs will become meaningless and they will have no importance but to be used as symbols.

But those who cannot understand these verses like the people with weak faith in the early days of Islam follow them and interpret these verses as, “This means existence of the names of the Martyrs and their prominence.” but the verse vehemently denies this and speaks of an eternal life for the martyrs; a life which definitely is not physical for the body of the martyrs are buried in earth and the life in purgatory is spiritual only.”

According to Tafsir Al Mizan some are adamant that this verse is about the martyrs of Badr (or the martyrs of Uhud for some) but the meaning of the verse is very vast and includes without exception all the martyrs though it does not deny such a life for others.

The tone of this verse and those that follow tells us that the souls of the martyrs are living and they are sustained by God’s spiritual grace. They are happy with the boons they receive. The verse rejects all the explanations and negative interpretations.

1. For the issue of the life of martyrs see Nisaa97, Anam 61, Nahl 27,32, and 70, Yunus 46, Ra’ad 40, Ghafir 67, Anfal 50, Hajj 5 and A’raf 37.