يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ۩ 50
Translations
They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.
Transliteration
Yakhafūna rabbahum min fawqihim wa yaf'alūna mā yu'marūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the angels who fear their Lord from above them and obey His commands perfectly. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes the angels' reverence for Allah despite their exalted position, serving as an example of true servitude and obedience. The phrase 'from above them' refers to Allah's superiority and dominion over all creation, including the angels themselves.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nahl's discussion of creation and the signs of Allah. It follows verses about the creation of the heavens and earth, and precedes descriptions of other aspects of divine creation. The ayah illustrates the obedience of creation to Allah's will, contrasting with human choice and responsibility.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The angels are created from light, the jinns are created from fire, and mankind is created from what you have been told (clay)' (Sahih Muslim 2996). Additionally, 'The angels descend with the wind, reminding people of mercy' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3232) relates to the angels' active obedience.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true servitude involves combining reverence for Allah with immediate obedience to His commands, regardless of one's station. Believers should reflect on the angels' unwavering devotion as a model for cultivating God-consciousness and swift compliance with divine guidance in their own spiritual lives.
Related Ayahs
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ ءَامِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ ٱللَّهِ فَأَذَٰقَهَا ٱللَّهُ لِبَاسَ ٱلْجُوعِ وَٱلْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَصْنَعُونَ
And Allāh presents an example: a city [i.e., Makkah] which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allāh. So Allāh made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَىٰهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And Allāh presents an example of two men, one of them dumb and unable to do a thing, while he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal to one who commands justice, while he is on a straight path?
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً ۖ لَّكُم مِّنْهُ شَرَابٌ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ
It is He who sends down rain from the sky; from it is drink and from it is foliage in which you pasture [animals].
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ ٱلْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنْهُ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهُ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And it is He who subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat and to extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, and [He subjected it] that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.