What is the difference between the trials of life and death, and the trials of this life and death?

These are Quranic terms, such as {my living and my dying} [6:162]. The difference between "al-mahya wa al-mamat" (living and dying) and "al-ḥayah wa al-mawt" (life and death) is that the first two are maṣdar mīmī (mimic infinitives). They function like the original infinitive and convey its meaning with stronger connotation and emphasis. Sheikh Muhammad al-Najjar stated that the maṣdar mīmī is distinguished by the strength and emphasis of its connotation. Sheikh Muhammad Abu Zahra believes that the maṣdar mīmī depicts the infinitive meaning as an existing, realized reality, whereas the original infinitive depicts the meaning as abstract. As for Dr. Fadel Al-Samarrai, he believes that the maṣdar mīmī carries an element of the entity itself, while the original infinitive is a mere event.

Moreover, the maṣdar mīmī carries a meaning not carried by the non-mimic infinitive. So, "al-maṣīr" (destination) means the ultimate outcome, "al-maʾāb" (return) means the end of return, and "al-munqalab" (turning point) means the conclusion and consequence of a matter. The connotation of the maṣdar mīmī is stronger and more emphatic. This may explain the expression of worldly torment with the regular infinitive and the torment of the Hereafter with the maṣdar mīmī, as in the Almighty’s saying: {Then We would have made you taste double [punishment in] life and double [punishment after] death} [17:75].

The terms "al-mahya" and "al-mamat" denote the event or the abstract meaning, and they also denote time and place. Ibn al-Athir mentioned that "al-mahya" applies to the infinitive, time, and place. Al-Ba’li said that "al-mahya" and "al-mamat" apply to the infinitive, time, and place.