Quran Universe
16:28

ٱلَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡۖ فَأَلۡقَوُاْ ٱلسَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعۡمَلُ مِن سُوٓءِۭۚ بَلَىٰٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمُۢ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

Allatheena tatawaffahumu almalaikatu thalimee anfusihim faalqawoo alssalama ma kunna naAAmalu min sooin bala inna Allaha AAaleemun bima kuntum taAAmaloona

The ones whom the angels take in death [while] wronging themselves, and [who] then offer submission, [saying], "We were not doing any evil." But, yes! Indeed, Allah is Knowing of what you used to do.

Word by word
  1. ٱلَّذِينَThose whom
  2. تَتَوَفَّىٰهُمُtake them in death
  3. ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُthe Angels
  4. ظَالِمِيٓ(while) wronging
  5. أَنفُسِهِمۡۖthemselves
  6. فَأَلۡقَوُاْthen they would offer
  7. ٱلسَّلَمَthe submission
  8. مَاNot
  9. كُنَّاwe were
  10. نَعۡمَلُdoing
  11. مِنany
  12. سُوٓءِۭۚevil
  13. بَلَىٰٓۚNay
  14. إِنَّindeed
  15. ٱللَّهَAllah
  16. عَلِيمُۢ(is) All-Knower
  17. بِمَاof what
  18. كُنتُمۡyou used (to)
  19. تَعۡمَلُونَdo
An-Nahl · 16:28Makkah

At death they say: we did nothing wrong. He knows.

The late denial at the last moment

At the moment of death
the angels cometo take the soul
they suddenly
submit"we did no evil"
reply
Yes you didAllah knows it all
The excuse
I wasn't that badsaid at the end
Allah knowswhat you used to do

Ibn Kathir describes those who wronged themselves when the angels come for their souls. They make it appear as if they had always listened and obeyed, saying they did no evil. The reply is short: Allah knows what you did.

You tell yourself you are basically a good person, so the small wrongs do not need fixing. The unpaid debt, the cold silence with your brother. The door to change is open now, while you still have time.

I'm basically fine, nothing to answer for.

Allah already knows my record; honesty now is better than excuses later.

Try this

Fix one small wrong today: pay back, apologize, or return something.

Related6:2358:18
Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Those whose lives the angels take while they are doing wrong to themselves. Then, they will (falsely) submit (saying): "We did not do any evil." (The angels will reply): "Yes! Truly, Allah is Most Knowing of what you did. (28)"So enter the gates of Hell, to abide therein, and indeed, what an evil abode there is for the arrogant. (29)

The Condition of the Disbeliever during and after Death

Allah informs us of the state of the idolators who are doing wrong to themselves when death approaches and the angels come to seize their evil souls.

فَأَلْقَوُا السَّلَمَ

(Then, they will (falsely) submit) meaning, they will make it appear as if they used to listen and obey by saying,

مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوءٍ

(We did not do any evil.) Similarly, on the Day of Resurrection, they will say,

وَاللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ

(By Allah, our Lord, we were not idolators.)[6:23]

يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ

(On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together; then they will swear to Him as they swear to you.)[58:18] Allah says, rejecting what they say,

بَلَىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ - فَادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَلَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ

("Yes! Truly, Allah is Most Knowing of what you did. So enter the gates of Hell, to abide therein, and indeed, what an evil abode there is for the arrogant.")(16:28-29),

meaning, a miserable position in the abode of humiliation for those who were too arrogant to pay attention to the signs of Allah and follow His Messengers. They will enter Hell from the day they die with their souls, and their bodies will feel the heat and hot winds of their graves. When the Day of Resurrec- tion comes, their souls will be reunited with their bodies, to abide forever in the fire of Hell, and

لَا يُقْضَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُوا وَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُم مِّنْ عَذَابِهَا

(It will not be complete enough to kill them nor shall its torment be lightened for them.)(35:36) As Allah says,

النَّارُ يُعْرَضُونَ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوًّا وَعَشِيًّا ۖ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ أَدْخِلُوا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَشَدَّ الْعَذَابِ

(The Fire, they are exposed to it morning and afternoon. And on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): "Cause Fir'awn's people to enter the severest torment!")(40:46).