وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ ٱلْخُلْدَ ۖ أَفَإِي۟ن مِّتَّ فَهُمُ ٱلْخَٰلِدُونَ
Important Words:
خلد is syn. with خلود which is infinitive noun from خلد (khalada) which means, he stayed for long. خلد بالمکان means, he stayed in the place. خلد الی الارض means, he stuck to the earth. خلد الیه means, he inclined to him. خلد (khuld) or خلود means, the immunity of a thing from speedy decay or deterioration and its remaining in a certain condition for a long time. The mountains are called خوالد (khawalid) on account of their long life (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
The verse seems to signify that all the different Dispensations and religious systems before the Holy Prophet were decreed and destined to suffer spiritual decay and death and that it was only the Dispensation of the Holy Prophet—the Islamic Dispensation, which was to live and continue till the end of time. That is to say that all avenues to spiritual progress are closed after the Holy Prophet and only the door of Islam is left open to mankind to attain salvation and nearness to God. The words, "if then thou shouldst die shall they live forever," also seem to signify that if the Islamic Dispensation were to die, which is inconceivable, then there will be no spiritual light left and all humanity will suffer spiritual death. The implication of the verse may also be that no human being is immune from decay or death, not even the Holy Prophet. Eternity and everlastingness are God’s own exclusive attributes.
All the different Dispensations and religious systems before the Holy Prophet were decreed and destined to suffer spiritual decay and death, and it was only the Dispensation of the Holy Prophet—the Islamic Dispensation— which was to live and continue till the end of time. The implication of the verse may also be that no human being is immune from decay or death, not even the Holy Prophet. Eternity and everlastingness are God’s own exclusive attributes.