“(They shall persist in their deeds) until when death comes to any one of them he will say: ‘My Lord, send me back to the world that I have left behind. I am likely to do good.’ Nay, it is merely a word that he is uttering. There is a barrier behind all of them (who are dead) until the Day when they will be raised up.”
(Al-Qur’ān – 23:99-100)
That sinners would pray to God to grant them another chance, right from the time of their death until they are hurled into Hell on the Day of Judgement, is evident. In fact, they will continue to so plead even after they have been consigned to Hell, but if their plea is heard, they will never disobey God but from thereon follow the Right Path instead.
Despite their pleading, sinners will not be taken back to the world. No one will be able to start his life afresh. For if someone failed the test earlier, what point is there in subjecting them to the same test again, for they are bound to perform exactly as previously?
The sinners’ pleading for grant of another chance is a statement they are now bound to make. Their utterance is not worth considering. For, faced with God’s punishment, they are bound to say so. Yet, given another chance, they would behave exactly as they did earlier. Hence, utterance merits no attention and he need not be sent back to life. In fact, there is a barrier between those who are dead and the present world.