his soul had departed from his body, his body would have been in the earth, like the bodies of the rest of the prophets or of another prophet.

The Most High has said in another verse:

“They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it was made to appear so to them. Those who differ concerning him are indeed in doubt about him. They have no knowledge of him, but merely follow conjecture. They certainly did not kill him. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself.”

His words here, “Rather, Allah raised him to Himself,” make clear that He raised him in body and soul, just as it is established in authentic hadith that he will descend in body and soul. For had his death been intended, He would have said: “They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; rather, he died.”

[His words, “Rather, Allah raised him to Himself,” make clear that He raised him in body and soul, just as it is established in authentic hadith that he will descend in body and soul] (*).

For this reason, some scholars explained “I will take you” as meaning, “I will take hold of you”—that is, “I will take your soul and body.” One says, “I have received the amount due in full,” using either tawaffaytu or istawfaytu. The word tawaffī (taking in full) does not, in itself, indicate taking the soul without the body, nor taking both together, except with a separate contextual indication.

It may also refer to the taking that occurs during sleep, as in the Most High’s words:

“Allah takes the souls at the time of their death.”

And His words:

“It is He who takes you by night and knows what you have done by day.”

And His words:

“Until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him.”

They have discussed how the Messiah was taken, as set out in the relevant discussion elsewhere. And Allah Most High knows best.