Surah Fussilat (41) — Ayah 30

(Ayah 30) ➊ { اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ قَالُوْا …:} After mentioning the subjugation of the devils from among jinn and mankind over the disbelievers due to their evil beliefs and actions, and their evil end, here is mentioned the descent of angels for the support and help of those who believe and remain steadfast, and the mention of their good end.
➋ { رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ:} “Our Lord is only Allah”—this brief sentence is an ocean of meanings. When the predicate after the subject is definite, exclusivity is created in the statement; in the books of rhetoric, its famous example is {’’صَدِيْقِيْ زَيْدٌ‘‘}, i.e., “My friend is only Zaid.” Therefore, the meaning of {’’ رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ‘‘} is “Our Lord is only Allah.” After saying this from the heart, a person cannot accept anyone else as the provider, helper, granter of treasures, benefactor of the poor, fixer of problems, or savior of the drowning. Then his verbal, physical, and financial worship, rather his entire life and death, are only for Allah; he asks only from Him and follows only His command. Whatever He commands, he does; whatever He forbids, he refrains from. There may be shortcomings in action and even the commission of sin, but he remains at His door and seeks forgiveness only from Him. Allah the Exalted says: «قُلْ اِنَّنِيْ هَدٰىنِيْ رَبِّيْۤ اِلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيْمٍ دِيْنًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ اِبْرٰهِيْمَ حَنِيْفًا وَ مَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ (161) قُلْ اِنَّ صَلَاتِيْ وَ نُسُكِيْ وَ مَحْيَايَ وَ مَمَاتِيْ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ (162) لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهٗ وَ بِذٰلِكَ اُمِرْتُ وَ اَنَا اَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ (163) قُلْ اَغَيْرَ اللّٰهِ اَبْغِيْ رَبًّا وَّ هُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ » [ الأنعام : ۱۶۱ تا ۱۶۴ ] “Say, indeed my Lord has guided me to a straight path, an established religion, the way of Abraham, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associate others with Allah. Say, indeed my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. No partner has He, and this I have been commanded, and I am the first of those who submit. Say, shall I seek a lord other than Allah, while He is the Lord of all things?”
After saying {’’ رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ‘‘}, there remains no room for worshipping anyone else, following another religion, or adopting a way of life prescribed by anyone else. Iqbal has therefore said:
When I say I am a Muslim, I tremble,
For I know the difficulties of La ilaha.
“When I say I am a Muslim, I tremble, because I know the difficulties of {’’لا الٰه ‘‘}.”
➌ { ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوْا:} In this, the “seen” and “taa” are for emphasis, meaning then they remained firmly established upon it and persisted until death; no fear or greed could turn them away from this belief and action, as He said: « وَ اعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتّٰى يَاْتِيَكَ الْيَقِيْنُ» [الحجر : ۹۹ ] “And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death).”
Tabari narrated from Aswad bin Hilal that Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) recited this verse: « اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ قَالُوْا رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوْا » and said: “What do you say about this verse?” The people said: [ قَالُوْا رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوْا مِنْ ذَنْبٍ ] “They said {’’ رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ‘‘}, then remained steadfast in avoiding sin.” So he said: [ لَقَدْ حَمَلْتُمُوْهُ عَلٰی غَيْرِ الْمَحْمَلِ، قَالُوْا رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوْا ثُمَّ لَمْ يَلْتَفِتُوْا إِلٰی إِلٰهٍ غَيْرِهِ ] [ طبري : ۳۰۷۷۰ ] “You have interpreted it other than its original intent; the purpose of {’’ قَالُوْا رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوْا ‘‘} is that then they did not even glance toward any deity other than Him.” Al-Hakim also narrated it through the way of Aswad bin Hilal and declared it Sahih. Dhahabi agreed with him. See al-Mustadrak al-Hakim, in the tafsir of “Surah Ha Mim as-Sajdah.” Tabari, with a reliable chain from Ali bin Abi Talhah, narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that he said: {’’قَالُوْا رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوْا عَلٰی أَدَاءِ فَرَائِضِهِ ‘‘} i.e., the meaning of {’’ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوْا ‘‘} is that they remained firmly established in fulfilling His obligations. In summary, the meaning of {’’ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوْا ‘‘} is that they remained firmly established upon Tawheed until death, walked the straight path shown by a Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and fulfilled the obligations; if there was any shortcoming or sin, they never let go of the rope of Tawheed and Sunnah.
➍ Sufyan bin Abdullah ath-Thaqafi (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said: [ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ! حَدِّثْنِيْ بِأَمْرٍ أَعْتَصِمُ بِهِ، قَالَ قُلْ رَبِّيَ اللّٰهُ، ثُمَّ اسْتَقِمْ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ! مَا أَخْوَفُ مَا تَخَافُ عَلَيَّ؟ قَالَ فَأَخَذَ بِلِسَانِ نَفْسِهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ هٰذَا ] [مسند أحمد : 413/3، ح : ۱۵۴۲۵ ] “O Messenger of Allah! Tell me something I can hold firmly.” He (peace be upon him) said: “Say, my Lord is only Allah, then remain firmly established upon it.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah! What is the most fearful thing you fear for me?” He (peace be upon him) took hold of his blessed tongue and said: “This (tongue).” The researchers of Musnad Ahmad have declared it Sahih. In Sahih Muslim, Sufyan bin Abdullah ath-Thaqafi (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said: [ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ! قُلْ لِّيْ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ قَوْلًا لَا أَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ أَحَدًا بَعْدَكَ، وَ فِيْ حَدِيْثِ أَبِيْ أُسَامَةَ غَيْرَكَ، قَالَ قُلْ آمَنْتُ بِاللّٰهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَقِمْ ] [ مسلم، الإیمان، باب جامع أوصاف الإسلام : ۳۸ ] “O Messenger of Allah! Tell me something in Islam such that I will not need to ask anyone after you about it.” He (peace be upon him) said: “Say, I believe in Allah, then remain firmly established upon it.” From this, it is known that the meaning of {’’ رَبِّيَ اللّٰهُ ‘‘} and {’’ آمَنْتُ بِاللّٰهِ‘‘} is the same, and this is a comprehensive statement in which all the pillars of Islam are included, as is evident from the words of Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) in the chapter of Sahih Muslim.
➎ {تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةُ …:} Upon them the angels descend, saying, “Do not fear and do not grieve.” Many commentators have said that the descent of angels upon those who say {’’ رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ‘‘} and remain steadfast occurs at the time of death, then in the grave, and finally on the Day of Resurrection, although the words of the verse are general. The reason for this interpretation is that the descent of angels upon the believers is not seen in this world; they begin to be seen at the time of death. But the reality is that, although they are not seen, surely the angels do descend upon the steadfast even in this world, by which tranquility and peace are created in their hearts, they gain steadfastness and firmness in faith and in the field, and they (the angels) inspire in them the desire for good, aversion to evil, and the best thoughts, as the angels descended at Badr, He said: « اِذْ تَسْتَغِيْثُوْنَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ اَنِّيْ مُمِدُّكُمْ بِاَلْفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةِ مُرْدِفِيْنَ (9) وَ مَا جَعَلَهُ اللّٰهُ اِلَّا بُشْرٰى وَ لِتَطْمَىِٕنَّ بِهٖ قُلُوْبُكُمْ وَ مَا النَّصْرُ اِلَّا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللّٰهِ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزِيْزٌ حَكِيْمٌ » [ الأنفال : ۹، ۱۰ ] “When you were seeking help from your Lord, and He answered you, ‘Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand angels, following one another.’ And Allah made it not except as a glad tiding and so that your hearts would be assured thereby. And victory is not except from Allah. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might, Wise.” And He said: « اِذْ يُوْحِيْ رَبُّكَ اِلَى الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةِ اَنِّيْ مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا سَاُلْقِيْ فِيْ قُلُوْبِ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُوْا فَوْقَ الْاَعْنَاقِ وَ اضْرِبُوْا مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ» [ الأنفال : ۱۲ ] “When your Lord inspired to the angels, ‘I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike them upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.’”
The angels descend upon the believers, but except for a rare case, no one sees them except a Messenger, and until this material life ends and the veils of materiality are torn, the descent of angels occurs in this manner. However, as soon as one dies and these veils and barriers are lifted, the angels will certainly be seen by humans at the time of death, then in the grave, and then on the Day of Resurrection, and they will comfort the believers with the words mentioned in these verses. If the angels were to become visible in this world, the purpose of the test would be lost; therefore, here they are only seen by ordinary people when they come with punishment and the period of testing ends. See the tafsir of Surah al-Hijr, Ayah (8).
The descent of angels upon the believers is just as the devils descend upon the disbelievers and wicked people, casting filthy thoughts and corrupt beliefs into their hearts and inciting them to evil. Allah the Exalted said: «هَلْ اُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلٰى مَنْ تَنَزَّلُ الشَّيٰطِيْنُ (221) تَنَزَّلُ عَلٰى كُلِّ اَفَّاكٍ اَثِيْمٍ (222) يُّلْقُوْنَ السَّمْعَ وَ اَكْثَرُهُمْ كٰذِبُوْنَ » [ الشعراء : ۲۲۱ تا ۲۲۳ ] “Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend? They descend upon every sinful liar. They pass on what is heard, and most of them are liars.” And He said: « وَ اِنَّ الشَّيٰطِيْنَ لَيُوْحُوْنَ اِلٰۤى اَوْلِيٰٓـِٕهِمْ۠ لِيُجَادِلُوْكُمْ » [ الأنعام : ۱۲۱ ] “Indeed, the devils inspire their allies to dispute with you.” And He said: « وَ اِذْ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطٰنُ اَعْمَالَهُمْ وَ قَالَ لَا غَالِبَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ اِنِّيْ جَارٌ لَّكُمْ» [ الأنفال : ۴۸ ] “And when Satan made their deeds pleasing to them and said, ‘No one among the people can overcome you today, and indeed, I am your protector.’”
➏ { اَلَّا تَخَافُوْا وَ لَا تَحْزَنُوْا:} The commentator Abdul Rahman Kilani writes: “That is, when the angels descend upon those who remain steadfast, they instruct them or place in their hearts that no matter how oppressive the forces of falsehood may be, there is absolutely no need to fear them, and do not grieve over the oppressions inflicted upon you for your adherence to the truth, because Allah has prepared for you such a Paradise that all the blessings of this world are insignificant in comparison. And at the time of death, the angels say these same words to every believer; at that time, he also sees the angels and understands their words, so at that time their meaning is that there is no reason to fear the next stage you are heading toward, because Paradise is awaiting you, and there is no need to be saddened for those you are leaving behind in the world, because we are your guardians and companions.” (Tayseer al-Qur’an)
➐ In this world, several types of angels are appointed with humans, among them the noble scribes (see al-Infitar: 10–12) and the angels who protect from calamities and misfortunes (see ar-Ra’d: 11). These angels are with both believers and disbelievers, but the angels mentioned in these verses are specific to the people of faith and steadfastness; they descend only upon them, encourage them, inspire them toward good deeds, and inspire goodness.

30. 1. That is, the One Allah alone is the Lord and also the only One worthy of worship. It is not that Lordship is acknowledged but others are also associated in worship.
30. 2. That is, they remained steadfast on faith and monotheism even in the most severe circumstances, did not deviate from it. Some have interpreted steadfastness as sincerity, meaning they worshipped and obeyed only Allah alone, as is also mentioned in the hadith: A person said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, "Tell me something so that I do not need to ask anyone else after you." He ﷺ said, "Say: I believe in Allah, then remain steadfast." (Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith)
30. 3. That is, at the time of death. Some say the angels give this glad tidings at three places: at the time of death, in the grave, and when being raised from the grave.
30. 4. That is, do not fear the circumstances that will occur in the Hereafter, and do not grieve over the wealth and children you have left behind in the world.
30. 5. That is, the promise that was given to you in the world.

30. Indeed, those who say, "Our Lord is Allah," and then remain steadfast [37], upon them the angels descend [38] saying, "Do not fear and do not grieve [39], but rejoice in the Paradise which you have been promised."

[37]
The Essence of Religion in the Briefest Words:

This is such a comprehensive statement in which the entire teaching of Shariah is encompassed. Thus, Sufyan bin Abdullah Thaqafi says that he asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: "Tell me something about Islam such that after it I would not need to ask anyone else anything." He ﷺ said: "Say: I believe in Allah, then remain steadfast upon it." [مسلم۔ کتاب الایمان۔ باب جامع اوصاف لاسلام]
That is, those people who sincerely affirmed the oneness of Allah with heart and soul, and then throughout their lives fulfilled this statement and commitment with complete honesty and uprightness. They did not associate anyone in the Lordship and Divinity of Allah. Nor did they change colors like a chameleon; whatever they said with their tongues, they fulfilled its requirements both in belief and in action. Whatever deed they performed, they did so purely for His pleasure and gratitude. They understood and fulfilled the rights and obligations set by their Lord. Upon such people, angels descend with glad tidings of Paradise from Allah.

[38]
The Meaning of the Descent of Angels:

Just as devils descend upon every liar and sinner, who cast suggestions and whispers into their hearts, in the same way, angels descend upon those who remain steadfast upon the religion of Allah and adopt patience and perseverance in times of difficulty. Through this, their hearts receive tranquility and peace. It is not necessary for the descent of angels to be visible and perceptible. Angels descended in the field of Badr, and the purpose of their descent is also mentioned as such: that through their descent, the hearts of the Muslims may be strengthened, but they were not visible to anyone except the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. And until this material life ends and the veils of materiality are not torn apart, the descent of angels occurs in this manner—except as Allah wills. However, with death, when these veils and barriers are lifted, then at the time of death, then in the grave, and then on the Day of Resurrection, everywhere, angels will certainly be seen by humans.

[39]
The Purpose of the Descent of Angels:

That is, when angels descend upon those who remain steadfast in faith, they instruct them or place this thought in their hearts that no matter how oppressive the forces of falsehood may be, there is absolutely no need to be afraid of them, and do not grieve over the injustices being inflicted upon you because of your adherence to the truth, for Allah has prepared for you such a Paradise in comparison to which all the blessings of this world are insignificant. And at the time of death as well, the angels say these same words to every believer. At that time, he also sees the angels and understands their words, so at that time their meaning is that there is no reason to fear the next stage to which you are going, for Paradise is awaiting you, and there is no need to be saddened for those whom you are leaving behind in the world, for we are your guardians and companions.