وَلَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَا مِنكُم مَّلَـٰٓئِكَةً فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَخْلُفُونَ 60
Translations
And if We willed, We could have made [instead] of you angels succeeding [one another] on the earth.
Transliteration
Wa law nashaa'u laja'alnaa minkum malaaikatan fil-ardi yakhlufooun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah conveys that Allah has the power to replace humanity with angels as successors on earth if He willed, emphasizing divine omnipotence and human contingency. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a reminder that human existence and role as khalifah (vicegerent) is a divine favor that can be revoked, and that humans are not inherently superior but rather chosen by Allah's will. The ayah implicitly warns against arrogance and ingratitude, as humans are dependent creatures whose position is entirely dependent on divine grace.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Az-Zukhruf's broader theme of refuting the polytheists' false claims and assertions about their gods and the afterlife. The immediate context addresses the Meccans' denial of resurrection and their attribution of partners to Allah; this particular verse serves as a rhetorical argument emphasizing Allah's absolute power and the precarious nature of human existence without divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'When Allah intends good for a person, He grants him understanding of the religion' (Sahih Bukhari 71). Additionally, the hadith emphasizing human responsibility as khalifah relates to this ayah's implication that stewardship is a divine trust: 'Each of you is a guardian and each of you will be questioned about those under his guardianship' (Sahih Bukhari 7138).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers humility by reminding us that our position and abilities are entirely dependent on Allah's will and favor, not our inherent merit—a perspective that should inspire gratitude, obedience, and protection against spiritual arrogance. It also reinforces that human responsibility as stewards on earth must be exercised with consciousness of our ultimate dependence on the Divine.