سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْزَابِ
Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 43
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَلِّى عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتُهُۥ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَكَانَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا ﴿43﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He it is Who sends Salât (His blessings) on you, and His angels too (ask Allâh to bless and forgive you), that He may bring you out from darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of Belief and Islâmic Monotheism). And He is Ever Most Merciful to the believers.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
هُوَ
huwa
He
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
(is) the One Who
يُصَلِّى
yuṣallī
sends His blessings
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
upon you
وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتُهُۥ
wamalāikatuhu
and His Angels
لِيُخْرِجَكُم
liyukh'rijakum
so that He may bring you out
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ
l-ẓulumāti
the darkness[es]
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱلنُّورِ ۚ
l-nūri
the light
وَكَانَ
wakāna
And He is
بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
bil-mu'minīna
to the believers
رَحِيمًۭا
raḥīman
Merciful
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 43) ➊ {هُوَ الَّذِيْ يُصَلِّيْ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ مَلٰٓىِٕكَتُهٗ … :} The meaning of Salat is also mercy, good mention, and supplication. In Sahih Bukhari, it is narrated from Abu Al-Aaliyah that “The meaning of Allah’s Salat is His praising in the presence of the angels, and the meaning of the angels’ Salat is supplication.” In Qamoos it is stated: {’’ اَلصَّلَاةُ الدُّعَاءُ وَالرَّحْمَةُ وَالْإِسْتِغْفَارُ وَ حَسَنُ الثَّنَاءِ مِنَ اللّٰهِ عزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلٰي رَسُوْلِهِ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَ عِبَادَةٌ فِيْهَا رُكُوْعٌ وَ سُجُوْدٌ، اسْمٌ يُوْضَعُ مَوْضِعَ الْمَصْدَرِ ‘‘} “By Salat is meant supplication, mercy, seeking forgiveness, the praise of His Messenger (peace be upon him) by Allah the Exalted, and the worship involving bowing and prostration. It is a noun that stands in place of a verbal noun.”
➋ The meaning of the angels’ Salat is supplication for forgiveness and mercy for the Muslims. The evidence for this is the hadith narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ تُصَلِّيْ عَلٰی أَحَدِكُمْ مَا دَامَ فِيْ مُصَلاَّهُ مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثْ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ، اللّٰهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ، لَا يَزَالُ أَحَدُكُمْ فِيْ صَلاَةٍ مَا دَامَتِ الصَّلاَةُ تَحْبِسُهُ، لَا يَمْنَعُهُ أَنْ يَنْقَلِبَ إِلٰی أَهْلِهِ إِلاَّ الصَّلَاةُ ] [ بخاري، الأذان، باب من جلس في المسجد ینتظر الصلاۃ… : ۶۵۹ ] “Indeed, the angels continue to supplicate for every one of you as long as he remains in his place of prayer, as long as he does not lose his ablution, saying: O Allah, forgive him; O Allah, have mercy on him. As long as the prayer has kept him from going home, and nothing prevents him from returning home except the prayer.” In Surah Al-Mu’min, verses (7 to 9), there is also mention of this supplication of the angels which they make for the believers.
➌ The connection of this verse with the previous verse is in two ways: one is that in the previous verse, the command was given to remember Allah abundantly, and in this verse, its result is stated that when you remember Allah abundantly, He will mention you with good mention before the angels, will grant you good reputation among people, will send down His mercies upon you, and His angels will supplicate for your forgiveness and mercy. Through this mercy and forgiveness, in this world, He will bring you out from the darkness of ignorance and disobedience into the light of faith, knowledge, and action. And the blessing to be granted on the Day of Resurrection is mentioned in the next verse. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Allah the Exalted says: [ أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِيْ بِيْ، وَ أَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِيْ، فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِيْ فِيْ نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِيْ نَفْسِيْ، وَ إِنْ ذَكَرَنِيْ فِيْ مَلَأٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِيْ مَلَأٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُمْ، وَ إِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ بِشِبْرٍ تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا، وَ إِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا، وَ إِنْ أَتَانِيْ يَمْشِيْ أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً ] [ بخاري، التوحید، باب قول اللہ تعالٰی : « و یحذرکم اللہ نفسہ … » : ۷۴۰۵ ] “I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me. So if he remembers Me within himself, I remember him within Myself, and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I remember him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me a handspan, I draw near to him an arm’s length, and if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length, and if he comes to Me walking, I come to him running.”
The second way it is connected to the previous verses is that in this verse, the reason for the command to remember Allah abundantly and to glorify Him morning and evening is stated: that Allah is the One Who, without any entitlement from you, purely due to His boundless mercy, sends Salat upon you, and His angels supplicate for your mercy and forgiveness, so that He may bring you from darkness into light in this world and grant you a noble reward in the Hereafter. So it is obligatory upon you to remember such a merciful Lord abundantly and to glorify Him morning and evening. This is just as He said elsewhere: «كَمَاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا فِيْكُمْ رَسُوْلًا مِّنْكُمْ يَتْلُوْا عَلَيْكُمْ اٰيٰتِنَا وَ يُزَكِّيْكُمْ وَ يُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتٰبَ وَ الْحِكْمَةَ وَ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ مَّا لَمْ تَكُوْنُوْا تَعْلَمُوْنَ (151) فَاذْكُرُوْنِيْۤ اَذْكُرْكُمْ وَ اشْكُرُوْا لِيْ وَ لَا تَكْفُرُوْنِ » [ البقرۃ : ۱۵۱، ۱۵۲ ] “Just as We have sent among you a Messenger from yourselves, who recites to you Our verses, purifies you, teaches you the Book and wisdom, and teaches you that which you did not know. So remember Me, I will remember you, and be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful to Me.” That is, the blessing of sending Our Messenger requires that you remember Me and be grateful to Me.
➍ {وَ كَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ رَحِيْمًا :} That is, the reason for all these kindnesses is that Allah has always been exceedingly merciful to the believers. The meaning of “always” is conveyed by the word {’’ كَانَ ‘‘}. In this world, His mercy, along with other blessings, is to bring them from darkness into light, and in the Hereafter, His mercy is mentioned in the next verse.
➋ The meaning of the angels’ Salat is supplication for forgiveness and mercy for the Muslims. The evidence for this is the hadith narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ تُصَلِّيْ عَلٰی أَحَدِكُمْ مَا دَامَ فِيْ مُصَلاَّهُ مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثْ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ، اللّٰهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ، لَا يَزَالُ أَحَدُكُمْ فِيْ صَلاَةٍ مَا دَامَتِ الصَّلاَةُ تَحْبِسُهُ، لَا يَمْنَعُهُ أَنْ يَنْقَلِبَ إِلٰی أَهْلِهِ إِلاَّ الصَّلَاةُ ] [ بخاري، الأذان، باب من جلس في المسجد ینتظر الصلاۃ… : ۶۵۹ ] “Indeed, the angels continue to supplicate for every one of you as long as he remains in his place of prayer, as long as he does not lose his ablution, saying: O Allah, forgive him; O Allah, have mercy on him. As long as the prayer has kept him from going home, and nothing prevents him from returning home except the prayer.” In Surah Al-Mu’min, verses (7 to 9), there is also mention of this supplication of the angels which they make for the believers.
➌ The connection of this verse with the previous verse is in two ways: one is that in the previous verse, the command was given to remember Allah abundantly, and in this verse, its result is stated that when you remember Allah abundantly, He will mention you with good mention before the angels, will grant you good reputation among people, will send down His mercies upon you, and His angels will supplicate for your forgiveness and mercy. Through this mercy and forgiveness, in this world, He will bring you out from the darkness of ignorance and disobedience into the light of faith, knowledge, and action. And the blessing to be granted on the Day of Resurrection is mentioned in the next verse. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Allah the Exalted says: [ أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِيْ بِيْ، وَ أَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِيْ، فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِيْ فِيْ نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِيْ نَفْسِيْ، وَ إِنْ ذَكَرَنِيْ فِيْ مَلَأٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِيْ مَلَأٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُمْ، وَ إِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ بِشِبْرٍ تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا، وَ إِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا، وَ إِنْ أَتَانِيْ يَمْشِيْ أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً ] [ بخاري، التوحید، باب قول اللہ تعالٰی : « و یحذرکم اللہ نفسہ … » : ۷۴۰۵ ] “I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me. So if he remembers Me within himself, I remember him within Myself, and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I remember him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me a handspan, I draw near to him an arm’s length, and if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length, and if he comes to Me walking, I come to him running.”
The second way it is connected to the previous verses is that in this verse, the reason for the command to remember Allah abundantly and to glorify Him morning and evening is stated: that Allah is the One Who, without any entitlement from you, purely due to His boundless mercy, sends Salat upon you, and His angels supplicate for your mercy and forgiveness, so that He may bring you from darkness into light in this world and grant you a noble reward in the Hereafter. So it is obligatory upon you to remember such a merciful Lord abundantly and to glorify Him morning and evening. This is just as He said elsewhere: «كَمَاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا فِيْكُمْ رَسُوْلًا مِّنْكُمْ يَتْلُوْا عَلَيْكُمْ اٰيٰتِنَا وَ يُزَكِّيْكُمْ وَ يُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتٰبَ وَ الْحِكْمَةَ وَ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ مَّا لَمْ تَكُوْنُوْا تَعْلَمُوْنَ (151) فَاذْكُرُوْنِيْۤ اَذْكُرْكُمْ وَ اشْكُرُوْا لِيْ وَ لَا تَكْفُرُوْنِ » [ البقرۃ : ۱۵۱، ۱۵۲ ] “Just as We have sent among you a Messenger from yourselves, who recites to you Our verses, purifies you, teaches you the Book and wisdom, and teaches you that which you did not know. So remember Me, I will remember you, and be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful to Me.” That is, the blessing of sending Our Messenger requires that you remember Me and be grateful to Me.
➍ {وَ كَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ رَحِيْمًا :} That is, the reason for all these kindnesses is that Allah has always been exceedingly merciful to the believers. The meaning of “always” is conveyed by the word {’’ كَانَ ‘‘}. In this world, His mercy, along with other blessings, is to bring them from darkness into light, and in the Hereafter, His mercy is mentioned in the next verse.
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
43. He is the One who sends blessings upon you [69], and His angels (pray for you), so that He may bring you out from darkness into light [70]. And He is ever Merciful to the believers.
[69]
Salat and Salam Upon the Noble Companions:
When the word "yusalli" is connected with "ala" and attributed to Allah Almighty, it means that Allah bestows His kindness and mercy upon His servant. If it is attributed to the angels, it means supplicating for mercy. And if it is attributed to a servant, it means supplicating for mercy, supplicating at a funeral, performing the funeral prayer, and also sending and reciting blessings. In verse 56 of this same surah, it is mentioned that Allah and His angels send mercy and supplications for mercy upon the Prophet ﷺ. In this verse, Allah Almighty has also included the noble companions and followers of the Prophet ﷺ in this grace and mercy.
[70] That is, as a result of remembering Allah abundantly, Allah bestows His mercy upon you, and this mercy descends through the angels. And it is the result of Allah's mercy that you were delivered from the ignorance of disbelief and granted the light and wealth of knowledge and faith, and this continues to increase at every moment.
[69]
Salat and Salam Upon the Noble Companions:
When the word "yusalli" is connected with "ala" and attributed to Allah Almighty, it means that Allah bestows His kindness and mercy upon His servant. If it is attributed to the angels, it means supplicating for mercy. And if it is attributed to a servant, it means supplicating for mercy, supplicating at a funeral, performing the funeral prayer, and also sending and reciting blessings. In verse 56 of this same surah, it is mentioned that Allah and His angels send mercy and supplications for mercy upon the Prophet ﷺ. In this verse, Allah Almighty has also included the noble companions and followers of the Prophet ﷺ in this grace and mercy.
[70] That is, as a result of remembering Allah abundantly, Allah bestows His mercy upon you, and this mercy descends through the angels. And it is the result of Allah's mercy that you were delivered from the ignorance of disbelief and granted the light and wealth of knowledge and faith, and this continues to increase at every moment.
