There are 160 instances of maata and its derived forms classified into 8 different groups based on grammatical forms as shown in the table below are reviewed to better understand their meanings in different contexts even keeping in mind that the Arabic words may have different meanings in the different contexts:
Note: The above table is populated with data obtained from the corpus.quran.com.
Here are 60 instances of maata and amaata in the verb form are reviewed together to better understand their meanings in the different contexts based on their tenses:
Details of instances of maata
There are 39 instances of maata in the verb form I meaning “to die” found in 38 verses across 21 surahs are detailed out below:
[2:132] And Abraham has enjoined his sons with it, and Jacob: “O my sons, indeed, God has chosen the religion for you, so you do not die (fa-laa-tamuutunna) except, while you are submitters.”
[2:161] Indeed, those who have disbelieved and have died while they were disbelievers (wa-maatuu wa-hum kaffaarun), those upon them is the curse of God, and the angels, and the people all.
[2:217] They ask you (Muhammad) about the sacred month whether there is fighting in it; say, “Fighting in it is a great (sin), but preventing (people) from God’s path, and disbelief in Him, and the Sacred Masjid and driving out its people from it is a greater (sin) near God, while the oppression is much greater (sin) than the killing.” And they will not cease to fight you until they can turn you away from your religion if they have been able. And whoever of you turns away from his religion, then he dies and he is a disbeliever (fa-yamut wa-huwa kaafirun), then those, has nullified their deeds in the world and the Hereafter. And those, they are companions of the Fire – they will be dwellers in it forever.
[2:243] Did you not see to those who had fled from their homes in fearing of the death, even they were thousands? So God said to them, “You shall die (mutu),” then He had restored them to life. Indeed, God is surely Possessor of bounty for the people, but most of the people do not appreciate.
[3:91] Indeed, those who have disbelieved, and have died while they are disbelievers (wa-maatuu wa-hum kuffaarun), then will not be accepted the earth full of gold from anyone of them, even if he had offered as ransom with it. Those, for them there is a painful punishment and for them there are no helpers.
[3:102] O you who have believed, you shall fear God as truth of His fear, and do not die except while you are Submitters (wa-laa-tamuutunna wa-antum mus’limuuna).
[3:119] Low! You love them, but they do not love you, while you believe in the scripture all of it. And when they meet you they said, “We have believed,” and when they have gone away, they have bitten the fingers upon you out of the rage. Say, “Die with your rage (mutu bi-ghayzikum).” Indeed, God is Knower of what is in the breasts.
[3:144] Muhammad is not a messenger except certainly had passed away the messengers before himself. So, if he had died (a-fa-in maata) or he had been killed, would you have turned back on your heels? And whoever turns back on his heels, then he does not hurt God in anything. And God will reward the grateful ones.
[3:145] And it has not been for any soul that it dies (wa-maa kaana linafsin an tamuuta) except by God’s permission, is a determined decree. And whoever desires a reward of the world, we give him from it, and whoever desires a reward of the Hereafter, we give him from it. And we will reward the grateful ones.
[3:156] O you who have believed, do not be like those who have disbelieved and said of their brothers when they had traveled in the land or they had been in war, “If they had been with us, they would not have died (maa-maatuu), nor would they have been killed.” That God makes that a regret in their hearts. And God gives life and causes death. And God is Seer of what you do.
[3:157] And surely, if you have been killed in a way of God or have died (aw muttum), surely, there is forgiveness from God and mercy are better than what they gather.
[3:158] And surely, if you have died (wa-la-in muttum) or have been killed, surely, to God you will be gathered.
[4:18] And there has not have an acceptance of the repentance for those who commit the evil deeds until when the death has come to one of them, he said, “Indeed, I have repented now,” nor for those who die while they are disbelievers (wa-laa alladheena yamuutuuna wa-hum kuffaarun). Those – we have prepared for them a painful punishment.
[7:25] He said, “In it you will live, and in it you will die (wa-feehaa tamuutuuna), and from it you will be brought forth.”
[9:84] And do not pray at burial upon any of them ever who has died (wa-laa-tusalli `alaa ahadin minhum maata abadan), nor do you stand by his grave. Indeed, they have disbelieved in God and His messenger, and have died while they were disobedient (wa-maatuu wa-hum fasiquuna).
[9:125] And as for those there is a disease in their hearts, then it (a surah) has increased them in evil to their evil, and they have died while they are disbelievers (wa-maatuu wa-hum kaafiruuna).
[16:38] And they have sworn by God having strongest of their oaths: “God will not resurrect whoever dies (laa-yab’`athu allahu man yamuutu).” Nay, it is a promise upon Him is truth, but most of the people do not know.
[19:15] Peace upon him (John) a day he has been born, and a day he dies (wa-yawma yamuutu), and a day he will be raised to life.
[19:23] Then the birth process had come to her (Mary) by a trunk of the date palm. She said, “Oh! I wish had I died before this (yaa’laytani-i mittu qabla haadhaa) and had I been a total forgotten.”
[19:33] “And the peace upon me (Jesus) a day I have been born, and a day I die (wa-yawma amuutu), and a day I will be raised to life.”
[19:66] The human being says, “What about when I have died (a-idhaa maa mittu), surely will I be brought forth to life?”
[20:74] Indeed, he who comes to his Lord as a criminal, then for him is Hell. He will not die in it (laa-yamuutu feehaa), nor will he live.
[21:34] And we have not made the immortality for any human before yourself (Muhammad), so if you have died (a-fa-in mitta), then would they be the inhabitants (on earth) forever?
[22:58] And those who have emigrated in a way of God, then have been killed, or have died (aw maatuu); surely, God will provide them a good provision. And indeed God; surely, He is the best Provider.
[23:35] “Does he (a human messenger) promise you that you when you have been died (idhaa mittum) and you have been dust and bones that you will be those who are brought forth?”
[23:37] “It is not but our life of the world – we die and we live (namuutu wa-nahyaa), and we will not be of raised ones.
[23:82] They said, “When have we been died (a-idhaa mit’naa) and have we been dust and bones? Would we surely be raised ones?”
[25:58] And you shall put trust upon the Living Who does not die (wa-tawakkal `alaa al-hayi alladhee laa-yamuutu), and shall glorify with His praise. And it has sufficed with Him being Cognizant of sins of His servants.
[31:34] Indeed, God with Him is knowledge of the Hour. And He sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in which land it will die (wa-laa-tadree nafsun bi-ayyi tamuutu). Indeed, God is Knower, Cognizant.
[35:36] And those who have disbelieved, for them there will be a fire of Hell. Neither there will be decreed for them that they die (laa-yuq’daa `alayhim fa-yaamuutuu), nor will there be lightened for them of its punishment. Thus that we recompense every ungrateful.
[37:16] When have we been died (a-idhaa mit’naa) and have we been dust and bones, indeed, would we surely be raised ones?
[37:53] When have we been died (a-idhaa mit’naa) and have we been dust and bones, indeed, would we surely be those who are brought to judgment?
[39:42] God takes the souls at the time of their death, and the one who does not die in her sleep (wa-alladhee lam-tamut fee manaamihaa). Then He keeps the one whom He has decreed the death upon them, and sends the others for a specified term. Indeed, in that there are surely signs for a people to reflect.
[45:24] And they said, “It is not except our life of the world – we die and we live (namuutu wa-nahyaa), and does not destroy us except of the time!” And there is no knowledge for them of that, nor do they do except guess.
[47:34] Indeed, those who have disbelieved and have turned away from a way of God, then they have died (thumma maatuu) while they are disbelievers, then God will never forgive for them (their sin).
[50:3] When have we been died (a-idhaa mit’naa) and have we been dust – that is a far return?
[56:47] And they have done to say, “When have we been died (a-idhaa mit’naa) and have we been dust and bones? Indeed, would we be surely raised ones?
[87:13] Then he will not die in it (Hell) (thumma laa-yamuutu feehaa), nor will he live (in it).
Details of instances of amaata
There are 21 instances of amaata in the verb form IV meaning “to cause death” found in 20 verses across 17 surahs are detailed out below:
[2:28] How do you disbelieve in God while you have been dead and He has given you life? Then He will cause you death (thumma yumeetukum), then He will give you life, then to Him you will be returned.
[2:258] Did you not see to the one who had argued with Abraham about his Lord that God had given him the kingdom? When Abraham said (to him), “My Lord is One who gives life and causes death wa-yumeetu).” He (the king) said, “I give life and causes death (wa-umeetu).” Abraham said, “So, indeed, God brings the sun from the east, then bring it from the west.” So, the one who had disbelieved had been stumped. And God does not guide the wrongdoers.
[2:259] Or like the one who had passed by a town, and it had been an overturned over its upside down. He said, “How would God give life this (town) after its death?” Then God had caused him death for a hundred years (fa-amaatahu allahu mi-ata `aamin), then He had raised him. He said, “How long have you stayed?” He said, “I have stayed a day, or a part of a day.” He said, “Nay, You have stayed for a hundred years. Then look at your food and your drink did not change with time, and look at your donkey, and that we will make you a sign for the people. And look at the bones how we make them, then we cover them with flesh.” Then when he had become clear for him, he said, “I know that God has power over everything.
[3:156] O you who have believed, do not be like those who have disbelieved and said of their brothers when they had traveled in the land or they had been in war, “If they had been with us, they would not have died nor would they have been killed.” That God makes that a regret in their hearts. And God gives life and causes death (wa-allahu yuh’yee wa-yumeetu). And God is Seer of what you do.
[7:158] Say, “O people, indeed, I (Muhammad) am to you all a messenger of God to Whom belongs a dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no god except He. He gives life and causes death (wa-yumeetu).” So, you shall believe in God and His messenger, the gentile prophet who believes in God and His Words, and shall follow him that you may be guided.
[9:116] Indeed God, to Him belongs a dominion of the heavens and the earth. He gives life and causes death (wa-yumeetu). And there is not protector nor a helper for you other than God.
[10:56] He gives life and causes death (wa-yumeetu), and to Him you will be returned.
[15:23] Indeed we, surely we give life and we cause death (wa-numeetu), and we are the inheritors.
[22:66] He is the One who has given you life, then He will cause you death (thumma yumeetukum), then He will give you life. Indeed, the human being is surely ungrateful.
[23:80] He is the One who gives life and causes death (wa-yumeetu), and to Him is alternation of the night and the day. Do you not then understand?
[26:81] And the One who will cause me (Abraham) death (wa-alladhee yumeetuni-i), then He will give me life.
[30:40] God is the One who has created you, then He has provided for you, then He will cause you death (thumma yumeetukum), then He will give you life. Is there any of your partners who does anything of that? Glory is His, and He has exalted high above what they associate.
[40:11] They have said, “Our Lord, You have caused us death twice (amattanaa ith’natayni) and You have given us life twice. So, we have confessed of our sins, then is there any way towards exit?”
[40:68] He is the One who gives life and causes death (wa-yumeetu). So when He has decreed a matter, then He only says to it, “Be,” so it is.
[44:8] There is no god except He. He gives life and causes death (wa-yumeetu), is your Lord and Lord of your fathers – the ancestors.
[45:26] Say, “God gives you life, then He causes you death (thumma yumeetukum), then He will gather you to a day of the Resurrection, there is no doubt about it. But most of the people do not know.”
[50:43] Indeed we, we give life and we cause death (wa-numeetu), and to us is the final return.
[53:44] And indeed He, He has caused death (huwa amaata) and has given life.
[57:2] To Him belongs a dominion of the heavens and the earth. He gives life and causes death (wa-yumeetu), and He has power over everything.
[80:21] Then He has caused him death (thumma amaatahu), so has provided for him a grave.
In brief, the review of the instances of maata and amaata found in 58 verses in the Quran confirm that not only to God belongs a dominion of the heavens and the earth but also to Him belongs the souls. He gives life and causes death, then a day He will raise us all. God will not accept the repentance of those who have committed evil deeds until when the death has come to them, then they have died while they were disbelievers. Those who have disbelieved and have died as disbelievers, those upon them is the curse of God, the angels and all the people. Those who have disbelieved and have died while they were disbelievers, He has prepared for them a painful punishment. They will be in Hell, and in it they will neither die, nor live, nor will its punishment be lightened for them. Those who have disbelieved and have died as disbelievers, God will never forgive them, even if the earth full of gold had been offered as ransom will not be accepted from them. He has caused the disbelievers death twice, and even they will confess their sins at His meeting and will seek a way to Him for exit but there is no exit for them. He has warned people not to die while they are not submitters and not to pray at burial, nor to stand by their graves of those who have died while they were disobedient of God and His messenger (message).
Death is a determined decree and a crucial sign for all of us not to have any doubt in the existence of God as well as to find Him as our Lord as Abraham had done in the past, which has set an example for us. It may help us to be sure for our accountability to Him being aware that even if we have been dust and bones followed by our death, He will raise us all. If we can reflect that and can be grateful to our Lord the way He has prescribed for us to be grateful to Him, we would not die as disbelievers to save us from the suffering of Hell, while He has reminded us that He has given us a religion (practice) through Abraham and whoever turns away from it is a disbeliever, but whoever believes in Him and follows His Words is a guided one. Thus, this review may help us to know the truth about the death and the punishment upon the death avoiding misconceptions around us.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (5/5/2023).