The verb Tawaffā has been used multiple times in the Holy Qur’an. It appears in the following forms when it means the taking of the soul:
i. Tawaffā as an action of Allah Almighty
ii. Tawaffā as an action of angels
iii. Tawaffā as an action of death
iv. Tawaffā in the passive form (Yutawaffā)
Before examining the relevant verses that pertain to these verb forms, it is essential to first understand the concept of death. What constitutes the act, event, or stage that is referred to as death, or that results in death? The Holy Qur’an provides a clear answer to this question. In Surah Az-Zumar, it is stated:
اَللّٰهُ يَتَوَفَّي الْاَنْفُسَ حِيْنَ مَوْتِهَا...
In reality, it is God Who claims souls when their time of death arrives ... (39:42)
The implication is that when the act of taking up the soul (Tawaffā al-Nafs) is ascribed to Allah, it means death takes place. So, the term for death is Tawaffā al-Nafs, and Tawaffā al-Nafs, in turn, signifies death. Thus, when we say death, it means that Tawaffā al-Nafs has occurred, and when we say Tawaffā al-Nafs, it means that death has taken place.
After this clarification, now observe the examples of the use of Tawaffā in the sense of death in the Holy Qur’an: