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
وَٱللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّنۢ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۙ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And Allāh has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect] that perhaps you would be grateful.
وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِلَّهِ ٱلْبَنَـٰتِ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۙ وَلَهُم مَّا يَشْتَهُونَ
And they attribute to Allāh daughters - exalted is He - and for them is what they desire [i.e., sons].
وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِٱلْأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُۥ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ
And when one of them is informed of [the birth of] a female, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.
وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمَ خَلَقَهَا ۗ لَكُمْ فِيهَا دِفْءٌ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
And the grazing livestock He has created for you; in them is warmth and [numerous] benefits, and from them you eat.