The verb tawaffā as an action of death, is also used in a way where death itself becomes the subject. This is not only in Arabic but a common style in all languages, where a verb, condition, or event appears as the subject in the sentence. For instance, in our language, we say:
Disaster befell him.
Calamities surrounded him.
Fear overcame him.
Sleep overwhelmed him.
Illness afflicted him.
Poverty struck him down.
Death took him.
In verse 15 of Surah An-Nisa, the words hattā yatawaffāhunna al-mawt (حَتّٰي يتَوَفّٰهُنَّ الۡمَوۡتُ) are used. It means: ‘Until death takes them.’ These words are in reference to habitual prostitute women. It is stated to confine these women to their homes until they fall victim to death or until Allah decrees another law concerning them.
وَالّٰتِيْ يَاْتِيْنَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مِنْ نِّسَآئِكُمْ فَاسْتَشْهِدُوْا عَلَيْهِنَّ اَرْبَعَةً مِّنْكُمْﵐ فَاِنْ شَهِدُوْا فَاَمْسِكُوْهُنَّ فِي الْبُيُوْتِ حَتّٰي يَتَوَفّٰىهُنَّ الْمَوْتُ اَوْ يَجْعَلَ اللّٰهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيْلًا.
And upon those of your women who commit fornication, call in as witnesses four people among yourselves to testify over them; then, if they testify, confine them to their homes until death overtakes them or God finds a way for them. (4:15)