If we look into this, in Surah An-Nahl, verses 28 and 29, there is mention of how the souls of disbelievers are taken. Similarly, in Surah Al-Anfal, verse 50, it explains how the souls of disbelievers are taken. Likewise, in Surah Muhammad, verses 27 and 28, it describes how the angels seize their souls. Many explanations are given about how the souls of disbelievers and evil people are taken. But when it comes to a Muslim who commits sins, if we ask whether the angels seize his soul in the same manner, generally there is no direct and specific evidence. However, there is one particular verse from which we can understand that the soul may be taken in accordance with the type of sin he committed.
What is that verse? Some people were living in Makkah. They were unable to bear the oppression there, so they migrated (performed Hijrah). Hijrah became obligatory when a situation arose where it was not possible to practice Islam. Instead of remaining in a place where Islam could not be practiced, it was better to leave that place and go to a safe location where Islam could be practiced properly. That is what Hijrah means. Hijrah was made obligatory in the religion. When it became obligatory, most of the Muslims who were in Makkah migrated to Madinah. However, some people did not migrate and remained there.
Although they accepted Islam, they hesitated to leave their homes, their streets, and the environment they were accustomed to. They felt reluctant to leave their homeland and familiar surroundings. Because of this hesitation, they remained in Makkah. They were subjected to oppression there, yet they did not migrate in order to practice Islam properly. At that time, this was considered a wrongdoing.
When there was an open opportunity to migrate and practice Islam properly, remaining in a place where Islam could not be practiced and facing oppression until death was not considered a good thing under those circumstances. Therefore, during that time, Allahﷻ made Hijrah obligatory. Some people still did not perform Hijrah. Regarding them, Allahﷻ says that the angels will seize their souls while they were wronging themselves. When the angels take their souls, they will ask them, “In what condition were you? Why did you remain in Makkah? Why did you not migrate?”
They will reply, “We were weak and oppressed in the land. We were too weak to migrate.” Then the angels will say, “Was not the earth of Allahﷻ spacious? Could you not have migrated elsewhere?” Because of this, their final abode will be Hell.
However, there are exceptions. Among them are weak women, children, and elderly people who are unable to travel. For example, how can a seventy-five-year-old person perform Hijrah? If he remains there, it is not considered a crime. Likewise, women and children who cannot migrate are exempted. Except for such people, others will face punishment.
What we understand from this is that these people accepted Islam, yet they lived among disbelievers who oppressed them and failed to practice Islam, and they did not perform Hijrah. When their souls are taken, the angels will question them: “Why did you remain in such a condition?” They will respond that they were weak and were living as a minority and could not do anything. The angels will ask them, “Even if you were a minority, was there not another land like Madinah? Was not the earth spacious enough for you to migrate?”
From this, we can understand that when people commit certain sins, the angels may mention those specific sins while taking their souls. It is not that only disbelievers are seized in a harsh manner. Even if someone is a Muslim — and these people were early Muslims — if they feared the people of their town and neglected certain obligations like Hijrah, the angels will question them when their souls are taken: “Why did you behave like this? Why did you act in this way?”
Therefore, when the soul is taken, it can be understood that the angels will question a person regarding whichever sin is considered his major or primary sin. They will not necessarily question every single sin. A person may have committed many wrongs, but the angels know which one is the most serious. They will mention that major wrongdoing and ask why he committed it. This understanding can be taken from this verse, and this is how we comprehend it.