Two Deaths

The Quran informs us that the disbelievers will experience two deaths.

[40:11] They will say, “Our Lord, you have put us to death twice, and You gave us two lives; now we have confessed our sins. Is there any way out?”

 قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَمَتَّنَا ٱثْنَتَيْنِ وَأَحْيَيْتَنَا ٱثْنَتَيْنِ فَٱعْتَرَفْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا فَهَلْ إِلَىٰ خُرُوجٍ مِّن سَبِيلٍ

1	qālū	قَالُوا۟	They said,
2	rabbanā	رَبَّنَآ	“Our Lord!
3	amattanā	أَمَتَّنَا	You gave us death
4	ith’natayni	ٱثْنَتَيْنِ	twice
5	wa-aḥyaytanā	وَأَحْيَيْتَنَا	and You gave us life
6	ith’natayni	ٱثْنَتَيْنِ	twice,
7	fa-iʿ’tarafnā	فَٱعْتَرَفْنَا	and we recognized / confessed
8	bidhunūbinā	بِذُنُوبِنَا	for our sins.
9	fahal	فَهَلْ	So is (there)
10	ilā	إِلَىٰ	to
11	khurūjin	خُرُوجٍ	get out / exit
12	min	مِّن	any
13	sabīlin	سَبِيلٍ	way?”

This corresponds with the following verse addressing the disbelievers and their two deaths.

[2:28] How can you disbelieve in GOD when (1) you were dead and He gave you life, then (2) He puts you to death, then He brings you back to life, then to Him you ultimately return?

(٢٨) كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَٰتًا فَأَحْيَـٰكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

1	kayfa	كَيْفَ	How (can)
2	takfurūna	تَكْفُرُونَ	you [all] disbelieve
3	bil-lahi	بِٱللَّهِ	in God,
4	wakuntum	وَكُنتُمْ	while you [all] were
5	amwātan	أَمْوَٰتًا	dead (1)
6	fa-aḥyākum	فَأَحْيَـٰكُمْ	then He gave you [all] life;
7	thumma	ثُمَّ	then
8	yumītukum	يُمِيتُكُمْ	He will cause you [all] to die, (2)
9	thumma	ثُمَّ	then
10	yuḥ’yīkum	يُحْيِيكُمْ	He will give you [all] life,
11	thumma	ثُمَّ	then
12	ilayhi	إِلَيْهِ	to Him
13	tur’jaʿūna	تُرْجَعُونَ	you [all] will return.

Finally we are given confirmation when we see how the above verse addressing the disbelievers compares with the following verse addressing the righteous indicating that they do not experience the second death.

[44:51] The righteous will be in a secure position.
[44:52] Enjoying gardens and springs.
[44:53] Wearing velvet and satin; close to each other.
[44:54] We grant them wonderful spouses.
[44:55] They enjoy in it all kinds of fruits, in perfect peace.
[44:56] They do not taste death therein— beyond the first death—and He has spared them the retribution of Hell.

 لَا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا ٱلْمَوْتَ إِلَّا ٱلْمَوْتَةَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَوَقَىٰهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْجَحِيمِ

1	lā	لَا	Not
2	yadhūqūna	يَذُوقُونَ	they will taste
3	fīhā	فِيهَا	therein
4	l-mawta	ٱلْمَوْتَ	the death
5	illā	إِلَّا	except
6	l-mawtata	ٱلْمَوْتَةَ	the death
7	l-ūlā	ٱلْأُولَىٰ	the first.
8	wawaqāhum	وَوَقَىٰهُمْ	And He (will) protect them (from)
9	ʿadhāba	عَذَابَ	(the) retribution (of)
10	l-jaḥīmi	ٱلْجَحِيمِ	the Hellfire.

Additionally, we have the example of the one who vouched for the messengers in Sura 36, that at the time of his death, he was told to “Enter Paradise.” This informs us that believers do not experience the second death but are admitted straight to Paradise after they depart from this world.

[36:20] A man came from the other end of the city, saying, “O my people, follow the messengers.
[36:21] “Follow those who do not ask you for any wage, and are guided.
[36:22] “Why should I not worship the One who initiated me, and to Him is your ultimate return?
[36:23] “Shall I set up beside Him gods? If the Most Gracious willed any harm for me, their intercession cannot help me one bit, nor can they rescue me.
[36:24] “In that case, I would be totally astray.
[36:25] “I have believed in your Lord; please listen to me.”
[36:26] (At the time of his death) he was told, “Enter Paradise.” He said, “Oh, I wish my people knew.
[36:27] “That my Lord has forgiven me, and made me honorable.”

(٢٠) وَجَآءَ مِنْ أَقْصَا ٱلْمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٌ يَسْعَىٰ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
(٢١) ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَن لَّا يَسْـَٔلُكُمْ أَجْرًا وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ
(٢٢) وَمَا لِىَ لَآ أَعْبُدُ ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنِى وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
(٢٣) ءَأَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً إِن يُرِدْنِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ بِضُرٍّ لَّا تُغْنِ عَنِّى شَفَـٰعَتُهُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يُنقِذُونِ
(٢٤) إِنِّىٓ إِذًا لَّفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
(٢٥) إِنِّىٓ ءَامَنتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَٱسْمَعُونِ
(٢٦) قِيلَ ٱدْخُلِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ قَالَ يَـٰلَيْتَ قَوْمِى يَعْلَمُونَ
(٢٧) بِمَا غَفَرَ لِى رَبِّى وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُكْرَمِينَ