What is the difference between al-wafah, al-tawaffi, and al-mawt, in Sharia and linguistic terms?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Oct 24, 2026
"Wafah" (demise) means death, linguistically and Islamically. It is divided into a minor demise (sleep) and a major demise (death). The Holy Quran referred to both in Surat Az-Zumar: "Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep." Sleep is considered the brother of death; the deceased do not sleep, nor do the people of Paradise. "Al-Tawaffi" (taking of souls) means the seizing of souls at the time of death and sleep, as stated in Surat Al-An'am: "Until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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