The Prophets
IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE[21:34]
AND [remind those who deny thee, O Prophet, that] never have We granted life everlasting to any mortal before thee: but do they, perchance, hope that although thou must die, they will live forever?

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* v.34 : This relates to the objection of the unbelievers, mentioned in verse 3 of this sūrah, that Muhammad is “but a mortal like yourselves,” and connects also with verses 7-8, which stress that all of God’s apostles were but mortal men (cf. 3:144).
* The obvious implication is, “and so We shall not grant it unto thee, either.” Cf. 39:30 – “thou art bound to die.”
* Lit., “but if, then, thou shouldst die, will they live forever?” – implying an assumption on their part that they would not be called to account on death and resurrection.