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
۞ وَلَوْ بَسَطَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِعِبَادِهِۦ لَبَغَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَـٰكِن يُنَزِّلُ بِقَدَرٍ مَّا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِعِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
And if Allāh had extended [excessively] provision for His servants, they would have committed tyranny throughout the earth. But He sends [it] down in an amount which He wills. Indeed He is, of His servants, Aware and Seeing.
جَزَآءً وِفَاقًا
An appropriate recompense.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
It is He who forms you in the wombs however He wills. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
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].