قَالُوا۟ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ 30
Translations
They said, "Thus has said your Lord; indeed, He is the Wise, the Knowing."
Transliteration
Qāloo kadhalika qāla rabbuka innahu huwa al-hakīmu al-'alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
The angels respond to Allah's command regarding the creation of mankind by saying 'Thus has your Lord said,' affirming that Allah's decision is wise and just. This ayah emphasizes Allah's absolute wisdom (hikma) and knowledge ('ilm) in all His decrees, particularly His choice to create humanity as His khalifah (vicegerent) on earth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that the angels' acceptance of this divine wisdom demonstrates the proper response to Allah's commands, even when the wisdom behind them may not be immediately apparent to creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the context of Surah Adh-Dhariyat's discussion of the angels' conversation about Allah's decision to create Adam and humanity. The broader surah establishes themes of divine providence and the cosmic order. The dialogue reflects the angels' initial questions about why Allah would create a being capable of causing corruption, followed by their acceptance of divine wisdom—a narrative that highlights the tension between created wisdom and uncreated divine wisdom.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (#2804) describes the angels' questions about human nature and their ultimate submission to Allah's will, directly correlating with this ayah's theme of accepting divine wisdom even when creation questions the purpose.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that when facing divine decrees or life circumstances we don't immediately understand, we should trust in Allah's infinite wisdom and knowledge rather than relying on limited human perception. The angels' acceptance of divine wisdom without full comprehension serves as a model for believers to submit to Allah's will with certainty that His decisions are rooted in perfect knowledge and wisdom.
Related Ayahs
مَّا يَفْتَحِ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِن رَّحْمَةٍ فَلَا مُمْسِكَ لَهَا ۖ وَمَا يُمْسِكْ فَلَا مُرْسِلَ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Whatever Allāh grants to people of mercy - none can withhold it; and whatever He withholds - none can release it thereafter. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
مَّآ أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَآ أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ ۚ وَأَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولًا ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًا
What comes to you of good is from Allāh, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself. And We have sent you, [O Muḥammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allāh as Witness.
وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَكَانَ لِزَامًا وَأَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى
And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, it [i.e., punishment] would have been an obligation [due immediately], and [if not for] a specified term [decreed].
وَجَعَلَ ٱلْقَمَرَ فِيهِنَّ نُورًا وَجَعَلَ ٱلشَّمْسَ سِرَاجًا
And made the moon therein a [reflected] light and made the sun a burning lamp?