A054
Surah: 002 - Ayah: 054
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2:54
Uqtulu (Kill, slay!)
History and exegesis are a different matter and to discover the reality is altogether a different matter from them. Thus, the success of a salik lies in his experience of the spiritual death prior to the physical death, as it is mentioned in numerous verses of the noble Qur’an, such as verse (2:54): "So turn to your Creator (practically) and slay your (carnal) soul (through the essential spiritual exercise, riyazat).” Try to reflect on the wisdom of this verse and to understand its meaning.
Tawbah (To return)
Tawbah has many meanings and the final and most exalted one is to return to Allah and annihilation in Allah, as is clear from the wisdom-filled verse (2:54): "So return to (the presence of) your Creator and slay your souls." That is, the successful return to God is to die spiritually before the physical death. And this is the annihilation in God.
You know that the wise Qur’an is multi-dimensional. Hence, reflect on this Qur’anic verse: “And (remember the time) when Musa said to his people: O my people! you have surely been unjust to yourselves by taking the calf (for a god), therefore turn to your Creator (penitently), so kill your (idolator) people (fa'qtulu anfusakum)” (2:54). Another meaning of “fa'qtulu anfusakum” is “die before you die physically” and exterminate carnal desires. (see: Mufradat, p. 407). This shows that there is a wisdom-filled allusion to “Die before you die” in the glorious Qur’an.
When the children of Israel wronged themselves by taking the golden calf as God, they were enjoined to kill their carnal soul as punishment and return to God. This is the real meaning of "And slay yourselves," (2:54), because returning to God or repentance is a personal action which has nothing to do with the sword of any other person. Also, repentance or turning to God means advancing in the stages of spirituality and of attaining the proximity of God. Thus, in the guise of the example of the children of Israel, the chosen servants of God are addressed in this verse, in order for them to benefit from the rewards of the voluntary death before the compulsory death.
This verse has been referred 5 times.