Who makes you die [6:60]

Question:

What is meant by that we are called away from God (6:60)?

Response:

Abu Al-Hasan Al-Qummi writes: “As for His saying: “It is He Who causes you to die through the night.” (6:60) So it is meant through the sleep: “And He knows what you have committed during the day.” By which is meant what you did during the day and He says: “Hereupon He awakens you therein.” By which is meant: “In that which you have done of good and bad.” Abu Al-Jarud reported that Imam Al-Baqir (a.) said about the verse: “That a limited time may be fulfilled.” (6:60) Said: “It is the death.” Hereupon to Him is your return. Thereupon He makes known to you about that which you used to do.” [Tafsir Al-Qummi, Vol. 1 page 203]

قال أبو الحسن القمي: وقوله وهو الذي يتوفاكم بالليل يعني بالنوم ويعلم ما جرحتم بالنهار يعني ما عملتم بالنهار وقوله ثم يبعثكم فيه يعنى ما عملتم من الخير والشر وفي رواية أبى الجارود عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام في قوله ليقضى اجل مسمى قال هو الموت ثم إليه مرجعكم ثم ينبئكم بما كنتم تعملون

Muhammad ibn Ali reported that Imam Al-Baqir (a.) was asked: “What is death?” He said: “It is the sleep that comes to you every night, but it is of a longer duration. You yourself do not wake up from it until the Day of Resurrection.” [Nur-uth-Thaqalain of Al-Huwaizi, Volume 5 page 380 Hadith 11]

عن محمد بن علي عن الإمام الباقر عليه السلام قيل له: ما الموت؟ قال: هو النوم الذي يأتيكم في كل ليلة، الا انه طويل مدته لا ينتبه منه إلى يوم القيامة

Ibn Al-Qaddah reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “When Prophet Muhammad (s.) went to his sleeping chamber, he would say: “O God, in Your name I live and in Your name I die.” When he awoke from sleep, he would say: “Praise be to God, Who revived me after He made me die. To Him is the return.” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, Volume 2 page 539 Hadith 16]

عدة من أصحابنا، عن سهل بن زياد، وأحمد بن محمد، جميعا، عن جعفر بن محمد الأشعري، عن ابن القداح، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله إذا أوى إلى فراشه قال: اللهم باسمك أحيا وباسمك أموت فإذا قام من نومه قال: الحمد لله الذي أحياني بعدما أماتني وإليه النشور

Muhammad ibn Ali reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) about the verse: “God takes their souls during their death.” (39:42) And the verse: “Say: You are caused to die by the angel of death, who is entrusted with you.” (32:11) And the verse: “Those, whom the angels cause to die while being good.” (16:32) And: “Those, who the angels cause to die while they are oppressors of their souls.” (16:28) And the verse: “Our Messengers caused him to die.” (6:61) And the verse: “If only you would see, when the angels caused those who disbelieved to die.” (8:50) was asked: “A man might day at any hour, among all the horizons, that only Allāh the Almighty can count, then how is that possible [for the angels to take his soul]? Then he said: “Verily Allāh, the Blessed, the Exalted, brought aides for the Angel of Death that take the souls, just like a chief of police has its aides from the people, that he sends according to their demand. Thus, the angels are taking them (i.e the people) in death, and the Angel of Death is taking them in death through the angels, with what he himself takes. And Allāh is taking them in death through the Angel of Death.” [Man La Yahduru-ul-Faqih of As-Saduq, Volume 1 page 136 Hadith 368]

عن محمد بن علي أن الإمام الصادق عليه السلام سئل عن قول الله عز وجل: لله يتوفى الأنفس حين موتها وعن قول الله عز وجل: قل يتوفاكم ملك الموت الذي وكل بكم وعن قول الله عز وجل: الذين تتوفاهم الملائكة طيبين و الذين تتوفاهم الملائكة ظالمي أنفسهم وعن قول الله عز وجل: توفته رسلنا وعن قوله عز وجل: ولو ترى إذ يتوفى الذين كفروا الملائكة وقد يموت في الساعة الواحدة في جميع الآفاق ما لا يحصيه إلا الله عز وجل فكيف هذا؟ فقال: إن الله تبارك وتعالى جعل لملك الموت أعوانا من الملائكة يقبضون الأرواح بمنزلة صاحب الشرطة له أعوان من الانس ويبعثهم في حوائجه فتتوفاهم الملائكة ويتوفاهم ملك الموت من الملائكة مع ما يقبض هو ويتوفاها الله عز وجل من ملك الموت