وَلَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَنْ عِندَهُۥ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَلَا يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ 19
Translations
To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those near Him [i.e., the angels] are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, nor do they tire.
Transliteration
Wa lahu man fi as-samawati wa al-ardi wa man indahu la yastakbiruna an ibadatihi wa la yastahsiruna
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that all creatures in the heavens and on earth belong to Allah alone, and those who are near Him (the angels) do not refuse or disdain to worship Him, nor do they become weary or fatigued in His service. Ibn Kathir notes that this verse emphasizes the absolute ownership of Allah over creation and the perfect obedience of the angelic realm, serving as a rebuke to human arrogance and disobedience. Al-Qurtubi highlights that 'yastahibsiruna' (become weary) demonstrates the angels' tireless devotion, contrasting with human weakness and need for rest.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Anbiya, which discusses the majesty of Allah and responses to polytheistic claims. The verse is thematically situated within the broader context of the surah's emphasis on Allah's absolute power and the obedience of creation, serving as a rhetorical response to those who associate partners with Allah or refuse His worship.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), which relates to the theme of proper conduct and servitude. Additionally, 'Whoever is merciful, even to the creatures on earth, Allah will be merciful to him on the Day of Judgment' (Sunan Abu Dawud 4723) connects to the theme of universal obedience and proper relationship with creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to humble themselves before Allah and recognize that all creation—including the tireless angels—submits to His will without complaint or fatigue, encouraging Muslims to embrace servitude with joy and sincerity rather than burden or reluctance. It serves as a powerful reminder that true nobility lies not in pride or refusal of worship, but in eager, wholehearted submission to the Divine.