The Quran is often heralded as a perfect, divinely inspired text, free from errors or contradictions. However, a careful reading of its verses reveals inconsistencies that challenge this claim. One striking example revolves around the concept of “Nafs” (soul or self) and its association with death. By examining Surah Al-Ankabut (29:57) and Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:116), we uncover a troubling implication: Allah, the supposedly eternal deity, may be subject to mortality. This post explores this contradiction and questions the coherence of Islamic theology.
Every “Nafs” Will Taste Death
The Quran makes a bold, universal statement in Surah Al-Ankabut (29:57):
Arabic:
كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ٥٧English Translation:
“Every Nafs will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned.”
(Quran 29:57)
The word “كُلُّ” (every) leaves no room for exceptions. This verse asserts that every entity possessing a “Nafs” will experience death, without qualification or exclusion. This absolute phrasing becomes problematic when we encounter another verse that attributes a “Nafs” to Allah Himself.
Allah Has a “Nafs”
In Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:116), a dialogue unfolds between Allah and Jesus (Isa) on the Day of Judgment:
Arabic:
وَإِذْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَـٰعِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ءَأَنتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ ٱتَّخِذُونِى وَأُمِّىَ إِلَـٰهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِىٓ أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِحَقٍّ ۚ إِن كُنتُ قُلْتُهُۥ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُۥ ۚ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِى وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِكَ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِEnglish Translation:
“And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, ‘O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, “Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?”‘ He (Isa) will say, ‘Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within my “Nafs”, and I do not know what is within your (Allah’s) “Nafs”. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.'”
(Quran 5:116)
The key phrase here is “تَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِى وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِكَ” (“You know what is within my Nafs, and I do not know what is within your Nafs”). Jesus/Isa explicitly refers to both his own “Nafs” and Allah’s “Nafs,” indicating that Allah possesses a “Nafs” just as Jesus does. This direct attribution is unambiguous in the text.
The Logical Conclusion: Allah Will Die
If Surah 29:57 declares that every “Nafs” will taste death, and Surah 5:116 confirms that Allah has a “Nafs,” the inescapable conclusion is that Allah, too, will die. This stands in stark contrast to the Islamic belief in Allah’s eternal, unchanging nature. Notably, Surah 29:57 does not include any exception for Allah, such as “كل نفس ذائقة الموت إلا نفس الله” (“Every Nafs will taste death except Allah’s Nafs”). The absence of such a clarification amplifies the contradiction.
This is a clear-cut error in the Quran. If Allah has a “Nafs” and every “Nafs” is destined for death, then the Quran’s own logic dictates that Allah is mortal—a notion that undermines the core of Islamic theology.
Theological Implications
This contradiction is more than a minor oversight; it strikes at the heart of Islamic doctrine. Allah’s immortality and transcendence are foundational to the faith, yet these verses suggest otherwise. If Allah is subject to death, He cannot be the eternal, all-powerful deity that Muslims worship. This humanization of Allah—attributing to Him a “Nafs” akin to that of created beings—further erodes the claim of His incomparable nature.
Some might argue that “Nafs” in Allah’s case is metaphorical, not literal. However, the Quran offers no such distinction. The plain reading of the text, especially the universal scope of Surah 29:57, leaves little room for reinterpretation without inserting assumptions not supported by the verses themselves.
Conclusion
The Quran’s assertion that every “Nafs” will taste death, paired with the revelation that Allah possesses a “Nafs,” exposes a significant flaw in the text. This contradiction challenges the Quran’s claim to divine perfection and casts doubt on the nature of Allah as an eternal being. For a scripture touted as infallible, this blunder invites scrutiny and demands a reevaluation of Islamic teachings.
Source: Adam Seeker