وَٱلْمَلَكُ عَلَىٰٓ أَرْجَآئِهَا ۚ وَيَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ ثَمَـٰنِيَةٌ 17
Translations
And the angels are at its edges. And there will bear the Throne of your Lord above them, that Day, eight [of them].
Transliteration
Wa al-malāku 'alā arjā'ihā wa yaḥmilu 'arshu rabbika fawqahum yawma'idhin thamāniyah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when the angels will be stationed around the Throne of Allah, and eight angels will be bearing the Throne of your Lord above them on that Day. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a manifestation of Allah's majesty and power, where the angels—despite their immense strength—are given the honor of supporting the divine Throne. The number eight is mentioned specifically to emphasize the extraordinary nature of this event, as the Throne's weight and grandeur would require such a multitude of powerful celestial beings.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Haqqah is a Meccan surah focused on themes of the afterlife, resurrection, and the inevitability of divine judgment. This ayah appears within the context of vivid descriptions of the Day of Judgment (verses 13-18), where the surah emphasizes the awesome and overwhelming reality of that day to instill reverence and prepare believers for the final accountability.
Related Hadiths
Hadith from Sahih Muslim and other collections describe that on the Day of Judgment, the Throne of Allah will be brought forth, and angels will be around it. Additionally, Hadith Qudsi traditions in various collections mention the glory and magnificence of Allah's Throne as a symbol of His ultimate authority and dominion.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to reflect on the awesome reality of the Day of Judgment and Allah's absolute sovereignty, encouraging humility and consciousness of accountability. It serves as a reminder that even the mightiest of creation—the angels—submit to Allah's will, thus urging human believers to align themselves with divine guidance in this life.