Document Type : Research Paper
Author
Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
Abstract
The Qur'anic phrase "He who created death and life" in Surah Al-Mulk (67:2) has provoked extensive theological and ontological challenges among Muslim commentators due to the direct attribution of the act of "creation" to "death." Utilizing a descriptive-analytical methodology alongside a theological discourse analysis approach, this research interrogates various exegetical perspectives. The findings demonstrate that fourteen distinct conceptual paradigms can be systematically categorized and analyzed within four macro-frameworks: "predeterministic, formative, existential, and teleological." Results indicate that although commentators were significantly influenced by their specific theological and philosophical foundations in defining the essence of death's creation—as either a privative or an existential entity—the synthesis of these views elevates death from a mere passive event to an active, purposeful, and created phenomenon. Furthermore, the precedence of death over life in the verse is interpreted not as a simple chronological sequence, but as a sophisticated semantic engineering centered on divine trial and pedagogical awakening. Ultimately, this study reveals that within the Qur'anic horizon, life and death function as metaphysical instruments for reimagining the essence of moral responsibility and the profound meaning of human existence.
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