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 47 instances of mayt, mayyit and maytat in the nominal form meaning “dead” are reviewed together to better understand their meanings in the different contexts:
Details of Instances of mayt
There are 5 instances of mayt meaning “dead” both in nominal noun and adjective form found in 5 verses of the Quran, which are detailed out below:
Noun
[6:122] Is one who has been dead (a-wa-man kaana maytan), then we have given life to him and have made light for him to walk with it among the people as one whoever by example of him is in the darkness has been one not coming out from it? Thus that has been made fair-seeming to the disbelievers what they have done to accomplish.
Adjective
[25:49] That we give life to a dead land with it (li’nuh’yiya bihi baldatan maytan) and we give it drink to what we have created – animals and many humans.
[43:11] And He is the One who has sent down water in proper measure from the sky; so we have revived a dead land with it (fa-ansharnaa bihi baldatan maytan). Thus that you will be brought forth.
[49:12] O you who have believed, you shall avoid many of the assumption. Indeed, certain assumption is sin, while you do not spy, nor do you backbite of yourselves to other. Would one of you like to eat a flesh of his dead brother (an yakula lahma ahkeehi maytan)? That you would have hated it. And you shall fear God; indeed, God is Redeemer, Merciful.
[50:11] A provision for the servants, and we have given life to a dead land with it (wa-ah’yay’naa bihi baldatan maytan). Thus that is the coming forth (resurrection).
Details of instances of mayyit
There are 38 instances of mayyit meaning “dead” both in nominal noun and adjective form found in 33 verses of the Quran, which are detailed out below:
Noun
[2:28] How do you disbelieve in God while you have been dead (wa-kuntum amwaatan), then He has given life to you, then He will cause you death, then He will give life to you, then to Him you will be returned?
[2:73] So we said, “Strike him (dead) with a part of it.” Thus that God gives life to the dead (ka-dhaalika yuh’yee allahu al-mawtaa) and shows you His signs so that you may reflect.
[2:154] And you do not say of whoever is killed in a way of God, they are dead (amwaatun). Nay, they are alive, but you do not perceive.
[2:260] And when Abraham said, “My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead (rabbi arini-i kayfa tuh’yee al-mawtaa).” He said, “Do you not believe?” He said, “Yes, but to satisfy my heart.” He said, “Take four of the birds, then incline them towards you, then place a piece from them on each hill, then call them, they will come to you in hurry, while you shall know that God is Almighty, Wise.”
[3:27] “You merge the night into the day and merge the day into the night, and You bring forth the living from the dead (wa-tukh’riju al-haya mina al-mayti) and bring forth the dead from the living (wa-tukh’riju al-mayita mina al-hayi), and You give provision to whomever You will without reckoning.”
[3:49] And (He will make him) a messenger to the Children of Israel (would say to them): “Indeed me (Jesus), certainly, I have come to you with a sign from your Lord that I can design for you from the clay like a shape of the bird, then I will blow into it, so it will become a bird by God’s permission. And I can cure the blind and the leper, and I can give life to the dead by God’s permission (wa-uh’yee al-mawtaa bi-idh’ni allahi). And I can inform you of what you eat and what you store in your homes. Indeed, in that there is surely a sign for you, if you have been believers.”
[3:169] And do not think of those who have been killed in a way of God are dead (alladheena qutiluu fee sabeeli allahi amwaatan). Nay, they are alive at their Lord, are given provision (reward).
[5:110] When God said, “O Jesus, son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I had supported you with the Holy Spirit to speak to the people in the crib and in maturity. When I had taught you the scripture and the wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel, and when you make from the clay like a shape of the bird by My permission, then you blow into it, so it becomes a bird by My permission, and you heal the blind and the leper by My permission. And when you bring forth the dead by My permission (wa-idh tukh’riju al-mawtaa bi-idh’ni-i). And when I had restrained the Children of Israel from you when you had come to them with the clear proofs, then those who had disbelieved among them said, “This is not but a clear magic.””
[6:36] Only those who listen will respond, while the dead – God will resurrect them (wal-mawtaa yab’athuhumu allahu); then to Him they will be returned.
[6:95] Indeed, God is a Splitter of the grain and the date seed. He brings forth the living from the dead (yukh’riju al-hayya mina al-mayyiti), and He who brings forth the dead from the living (wa-mukh’riju al-mayyiti mina al-hayyi). That is God, then how are you deviated.
[6:111] And if that we had sent down the angels to them, and the dead would have spoken to them (wa-kallamahumu al-mawtaa), and we had gathered everything face to face before them; they would not have done to believe except that God wills. But most of them to be ignorant.
[7:57] He is the One who sends the winds as good news from His mercy, until when they have carried heavy clouds; we have driven it to a dead land, then we have sent down the water with it, so we have brought forth all kinds of fruits with it. Thus that we bring forth the dead (ka-dhaalika nukh’riju al-mawtaa) that you may take heed.
[10:31] Say, “Who provides for you from the sky and the earth? Does who control the hearing and the sight? And who brings forth the living from the dead (wa-man yukh’riju al-hayya mina al-mayiti) and brings forth the dead from the living (wa-yukh’riju al-mayita mina al-hayyi)? And who disposes the affairs?” Then they will say, “God.” Say, “Then will you not fear (Him)?”
[13:31] And if that there had been a Quran, the mountains would have been moved by it, or the earth would have been cloven asunder by it, or the dead would have been made to speak by it (aw kullima bihi al-mawtaa). Nay, to God belongs all the matter. Does it then not know those who have believed that if God had willed, surely, He would have guided all the people? And it will not cease those who have disbelieved to strike them a disaster for what they have done, or it settles close from their houses until God’s promise comes. Indeed, God will not break the promise.
[14:17] He will sip it (boiling water) but cannot make near to swallow it. And the death will come to him from every side, but he will not be dead (wa-maa huwa bi-mayyitin), while of his behind there is a terrible punishment.
[16:21] They are dead, not alive (amwaatun ghayru ah’yaain) , and they do not perceive when they will be raised.
[22:6] That is with God that He is the Truth, and that He gives life to the dead (wa-annahu yuh’yee al-mawtaa), and that He has power over everything.
[23:15] Then indeed you, after that surely will be dead (ba`da dhaalika la’mayyituuna).
[27:80] Indeed, you cannot make the dead to hear (innaka laa-tus’mi`u al-mawtaa), nor can you make the deaf to hear the call when they have turned back as retreaters.
[30:19] He brings forth the living from the dead (yukh’riju al-haya mina al-mayyiti), and brings forth the dead from the living (wa-yukh’riju al-mayyita mina al-hayyi), and He gives life to the earth after its death, and thus that you will be brought forth.
[30:52] So indeed, you cannot make the dead to hear (fa-innaka laa-tus’mi`u al-mawtaa), nor can you make the deaf to hear the call when they have turned back as retreaters.
[35:22] And not equal the living, nor the dead (wa-maa yastawee al-ah’yaau wa-laa al-amwaatu); indeed, God makes to hear whomever He wills, and you are not of hearers whoever is in the graves.
[36:12] Indeed, we give life to the dead (innaa nahnu nuh’yi al-mawtaa), and we record what they have sent forth and their footprints, and everything we have counted it is in a clear record.
[37:58] Are not we then be with dead (a-fa-maa nahnu bi-mayyiteena)?
[39:30] Indeed, you (Muhammad) will be dead (innaka mayyitin), and indeed, they will be dead (wa-innahum mayyituuna).
[42:9] Or have they taken protectors other than Him? While God – He is the Protector, and He gives life to the dead (wa-huwa yuh’yee al-mawtaa), and He has power over everything.
[46:33] And do they not see that God who has created the heavens and the earth, while He does not tire of their creation, is being Able upon to give life to the dead (bi-qaadarin `alaa an yuh’yiya al-mawtaa)? Yes indeed; He has power over everything.
[75:40] Has not it been that He is being Able upon to give life to the dead (bi-qaadarin `alaa an yuh’yiya al-mawtaa)?
[77:26] for living and dead (ah’yaa-an wa-amwaatan)?
Adjective
[7:57] He is the One who sends the winds as good news from His mercy, until when they have carried heavy clouds; we have driven it to a dead land (suq’naahu li-baladin mayyitin), then we have sent down the water with it, so we have brought forth all kinds of fruits with it. Thus that we bring forth the dead that you may take heed.
[30:50] So you shall look at outcome of God’s mercy how He gives life to the earth after its death. Indeed, that is surely a Giver of life to the dead (inna dhaalika la’muh’yee al-mawtaa). And He has power over everything.
[35:9] God is the One who has sent the winds to stir up clouds, so we have driven it towards a dead land (fa-suq’naahu ilaa baladin mayyitin), then we have given life to the earth with it after its death. Thus that is the resurrection.
[41:39] And of His signs that you see is the barren earth, then when we have sent down the water upon it, it has stirred and grown. Indeed, Who has given life to it, is surely a Giver of life to the dead (la’muh’yee al-mawtaa). Indeed, He has power over everything.
Details of instances of maytat
There are 6 instances of maytat meaning “dead” both in nominal noun and adjective form found in 6 verses of the Quran, which are detailed out below:
Noun
[2:173] He has only forbidden for you the dead animals (`alaykumu al-maytata), and the blood, and meat of the pigs, and what has been dedicated to other than God with it. So, whoever has been forced without being disobedient, nor transgressor, then there is no sin for him. Indeed, God is Forgiving, Merciful.
[5:3] Forbidden for you the dead animal (hurrimat `alaykumu al-maytatu), and the blood, and the meat of pig, and what has been dedicated to other than God with it; and that which has been strangled, and that which has been beaten to death, and that which has fallen from a height, and that which has been gored, and that which the wild animals have attacked except what has been slaughtered (before it dies), and what has been slaughtered on the alters, and that you divide by the arrows of chance – that all is abominable. Today, has given up those who have disbelieved of your religion, so you do not fear them, but you shall fear Me. Today, I have perfected your religion for you, and have completed My blessing upon you, and have mandated Islam as a religion for you. So, whoever has been forced by hunger not willing for sin, then indeed, God is Forgiving, Merciful.
[6:139] And they said, “What is in wombs of these livestock being exclusive for our males, and has been prohibited for our spouses, while if it would be dead (wa-in yakun maytatan), then they are partners in it.” He will recompense them for their fabrication; indeed, He is Wise, Knower.
[6:145] Say, “I (Muhammad) do not find in what has been revealed to me being forbidden for an eater to eat it except that it would be deed (yakuuna maytatan), or being poured forth blood, or a flesh of pig as indeed it is for contamination, or what has been dedicated to other than God in disobedience with it, while whoever has been forced not being disobedient, nor of transgressors, then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.
[16:115] He has only forbidden for you the dead animal (al-maytata), and the blood, and a flesh of the pig, and what has been dedicated to other than God with it, while whoever has been forced not being disobedient, nor of transgressors, then indeed, God is Forgiving, Merciful.
Adjective
[36:33] And a sign for them is the dead earth (wa-aayatun lahumu al-ardu al-maytatu), we have given life to it and we have brought forth grain from it to eat.
Here is a summary of review of 47 instances of mayt, mayyit and maytat in the nominal form meaning “dead” found in 43 verses in the Quran:
- The accomplishments of the disbelievers have been made fair-seeming to them being in the darkness.
- God has sent down water from the sky in proper measure to revive a dead land with it making it resemblance to our resurrection.
- He does not want us to spy or backbite to other. Thus, those who backbite to other they would eat a flesh of their dead brothers.
- He has given life to us from the dead, then He has caused us death, then He will give life to us, then we will return to Him.
- Those who are killed in a way of God, they are not dead but they are alive with Him.
- Abraham has confirmed resurrection for himself that we can reflect not to have any doubt about it.
- Jesus was a messenger to the Children of Israel, who had come to them with a sign to bring forth the dead by permission of God.
- God provides from the sky and the earth and controls the hearing and the sight, while He brings forth the living from the dead and brings forth the dead from the living.
- If God would send angels, and the dead would speak to them, the disbelievers will not believe except He has willed.
- If there had been a Quran, the mountains would have been moved by it, or the earth would have been cloven asunder by it, or the dead would have been made to speak by it, the disbelievers cannot believe in it unless God wills.
- There is a terrible punishment for the disbelievers in Hell wherein they will neither be alive nor be dead.
- Neither the dead nor the deaf can be made to hear the call as they have turned back as retreaters.
- The living and the dead are not equal, while God makes to hear whomever He wills, we are not hearers whoever is in the graves.
- God not only gives life to the dead, He has also recorded what they have sent forth and their footprints, while everything is counted in a clear record.
- He has informed His prophet (Muhammad) that he will be dead and those who were around him will also be dead.
- There is no protector other than God as He gives life to the dead, while He has power over everything.
- It is a great sign for us to reflect that the dead earth has been given life to produce all kinds of fruits.
- He has specified what He has forbidden for an eater to eat including the dead animal perfecting His religion so that we should not have debate what we should eat and what we should not eat.
God is a Giver of life to the dead, and He has given life to the dead earth to produce all kinds of fruits is a great sign being resemblance to resurrection and the Quran He has given as guidance for mankind is a wonder may help us to succeed in the Hereafter avoiding punishment in Hell if we can reflect.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless. Tafazzal (5/19/2023).