Answer to the Qadiani Objection Regarding the Meaning of “توفی (Tawaffa)”

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A Qadiani might ask whether the word توفی (Tawaffa) ever means “death” and similar questions.

The response is that while the metaphorical meaning of Tawaffa can be “death,” its primary and literal meaning is “to take in full.” Qadianis argue that if we accept that Tawaffa can have a metaphorical meaning of death, then why should we take its literal meaning in this verse instead of the metaphorical one?

Answer:

The references provided above have already established that the literal meaning of Tawaffa is “to take in full.” Now, let’s examine references that mention its metaphorical meaning as “death”:

1. Taj al-Arus (40/220):
   • “From a metaphorical standpoint, it is said: Death overtook him (أدركته الوفاة), meaning he died.”
2. Asas al-Balagha (2/348):
   • “From a metaphorical perspective, Tawaffa means death (وتوفي فلان، وتوفاه الله تعالى، وأدركته الوفاة).”

Now, regarding why the metaphorical meaning should not be taken in this verse, the principle in Balagha (rhetoric) states that a metaphorical meaning is only adopted when the literal meaning is either impossible or incorrect. Since the literal meaning of Tawaffa (“taking in full”) is both correct and possible, there is no reason to adopt the metaphorical meaning.

Moreover, the Quran explains itself:

• Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:117):
  “فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّیۡتَنِیۡ کُنۡتَ اَنۡتَ الرَّقِیۡبَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ”
  (“So when You took me in full, You were the One watching over them.”)
• Surah Aal-e-Imran (3:55):
  “اِذۡ قَالَ اللّٰہُ یٰعِیۡسٰۤی اِنِّیۡ مُتَوَفِّیۡکَ وَ رَافِعُکَ اِلَیَّ”
  (“When Allah said: O ‘Isa, I will take you in full and raise you to Myself.”)

The phrase “فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّیۡتَنِیۡ” in Surah Ma’idah is the fulfillment of the promise made in Surah Aal-e-Imran, where Tawaffa was stated alongside Rafa’ (raising). This shows that taking in full happened in the form of being raised to the heavens, as also confirmed by classical Mufassireen (exegetes):

1. Tafsir al-Baydawi (2/151):
   • “Tawaffa here means raising to the heavens, as Allah said: إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرافِعُكَ.”
2. Tafsir Abu al-Su‘ud (3/101):
   • “Tawaffa here means raising to the heavens.”
3. Lubab fi ‘Ulum al-Kitab (7/624):
   • “Tawaffa means raising to the heavens.”
4. Siraj al-Munir (1/408):
   • “Tawaffa means raising to the heavens, as in إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرافِعُكَ.”
5. Tafsir al-Qasimi (4/301):
   • “Tawaffa means raising to the heavens.”

Conclusion:

1. As per linguistic principles, the literal meaning of a word should be taken unless it is impossible or incorrect. Since taking in full (Tawaffa) is both possible and correct, there is no reason to adopt the metaphorical meaning of “death.”
2. The Quran explains itself: The meaning of Tawaffa in Surah Ma’idah is clarified in Surah Aal-e-Imran and further supported by Surah An-Nisa (4:157) where Allah states that Isa عليه السلام was neither killed nor crucified but raised to Himself.
3. Mufassireen (classical scholars) consistently interpreted Tawaffa in these verses as “taking in full” through raising to the heavens, not as death.

Thus, the claim that Tawaffa means death in these verses is invalid and goes against the Quran, linguistic principles, and classical Tafsir sources.