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
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ يَتَفَيَّؤُا۟ ظِلَـٰلُهُۥ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَٱلشَّمَآئِلِ سُجَّدًا لِّلَّهِ وَهُمْ دَٰخِرُونَ
Have they not considered what things Allāh has created? Their shadows incline to the right and to the left, prostrating to Allāh, while they [i.e., those creations] are humble.
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
And if Allāh were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon it [i.e., the earth] any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].
وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And We gave him good in this world, and indeed, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.
وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ لَعِبْرَةً ۖ نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِى بُطُونِهِۦ مِنۢ بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَّبَنًا خَالِصًا سَآئِغًا لِّلشَّـٰرِبِينَ
And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies - between excretion and blood - pure milk, palatable to drinkers.