سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ
Surah Al-An'aam (6) — Ayah 61
وَهُوَ ٱلْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ ﴿61﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He is the Irresistible, (Supreme) over His slaves, and He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one’s good and bad deeds) over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our Messengers (angel of death and his assistants) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
And He
ٱلْقَاهِرُ
l-qāhiru
(is) the Subjugator
فَوْقَ
fawqa
over
عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ
ʿibādihi
His slaves
وَيُرْسِلُ
wayur'silu
and He sends
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
over you
حَفَظَةً
ḥafaẓatan
guardians
حَتَّىٰٓ
ḥattā
until
إِذَا
idhā
when
جَآءَ
jāa
comes
أَحَدَكُمُ
aḥadakumu
(to) anyone of you
ٱلْمَوْتُ
l-mawtu
the death
تَوَفَّتْهُ
tawaffathu
take him
رُسُلُنَا
rusulunā
Our messengers
وَهُمْ
wahum
and they
لَا
lā
(do) not
يُفَرِّطُونَ
yufarriṭūna
fail
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 61) ➊ {وَ هُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهٖ:} {’’ هُوَ ‘‘} is the subject in this sentence. Because of the definite article on {’’ الْقَاهِرُ ‘‘} in the predicate, it is translated as "He alone." The meaning of {’’ الْقَاهِرُ ‘‘} is "dominant," and it is an additional attribute to {’’ اَلْقَادِرُ ‘‘}, meaning that along with being able Himself, He also prevents others from attaining their aims. (Baghawi) Allah Almighty's attribute of Qahhariyyah is that He brought the universe into existence from non-existence, then continues to bring about destruction and decay upon existence, so all the acts of creation and annihilation happening in the universe are manifestations of Allah Almighty's Qahhariyyah. The verses (26, 27) of Surah Al-Imran fully explain this attribute.
➋ {وَ يُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً:} Some of the angels who guard are those who protect humans from calamities, as He said: «لَهٗ مُعَقِّبٰتٌ مِّنْۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَ مِنْ خَلْفِهٖ يَحْفَظُوْنَهٗ مِنْ اَمْرِ اللّٰهِ» [ الرعد : ۱۱ ] "For him are successive angels before him and behind him who guard him by the command of Allah." And some are those who record the deeds of humans, as He said: «وَ اِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحٰفِظِيْنَ(10)كِرَامًا كَاتِبِيْنَ(11)يَعْلَمُوْنَ مَا تَفْعَلُوْنَ» [ الانفطار : ۱۰ تا ۱۲ ] "But verily, over you are appointed guardians, noble, recording, who know whatever you do."
➌ {حَتّٰۤى اِذَا جَآءَ اَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ …:} The name of the angel who takes souls is popularly known as Azrael, but Shaykh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) has declared all such narrations to be weak. [ أحکام الجنائز، باب بدع الجنائز، حاشیہ بدعۃ، رقم : ۹۲ ] In the Qur'an, he is called Malak al-Mawt, as He said: «قُلْ يَتَوَفّٰىكُمْ مَّلَكُ الْمَوْتِ » [ السجدۃ : ۱۱] "Say, the Angel of Death will take you."
From {’’ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا ‘‘} it is understood that there are several angels of death, and in several verses, the taking of souls is attributed to Allah Almighty, as He said: «اَللّٰهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْاَنْفُسَ حِيْنَ مَوْتِهَا» [ الزمر : ۴۲ ] "Allah takes the souls at the time of their death." Considering all these verses, the correct understanding is that the one who takes the soul is Allah Almighty Himself, by whose command everything happens. Then there is Malak al-Mawt, who according to most scholars is one, but he has assisting angels of mercy and punishment, as mentioned in the verse under exegesis and in the hadith of Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with them both), that with Malak al-Mawt are also angels of mercy and punishment.
➍ {وَ هُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُوْنَ:} That is, when they seize a soul, they do so by Allah's command at its appointed time, neither before nor after.
➋ {وَ يُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً:} Some of the angels who guard are those who protect humans from calamities, as He said: «لَهٗ مُعَقِّبٰتٌ مِّنْۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَ مِنْ خَلْفِهٖ يَحْفَظُوْنَهٗ مِنْ اَمْرِ اللّٰهِ» [ الرعد : ۱۱ ] "For him are successive angels before him and behind him who guard him by the command of Allah." And some are those who record the deeds of humans, as He said: «وَ اِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحٰفِظِيْنَ(10)كِرَامًا كَاتِبِيْنَ(11)يَعْلَمُوْنَ مَا تَفْعَلُوْنَ» [ الانفطار : ۱۰ تا ۱۲ ] "But verily, over you are appointed guardians, noble, recording, who know whatever you do."
➌ {حَتّٰۤى اِذَا جَآءَ اَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ …:} The name of the angel who takes souls is popularly known as Azrael, but Shaykh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) has declared all such narrations to be weak. [ أحکام الجنائز، باب بدع الجنائز، حاشیہ بدعۃ، رقم : ۹۲ ] In the Qur'an, he is called Malak al-Mawt, as He said: «قُلْ يَتَوَفّٰىكُمْ مَّلَكُ الْمَوْتِ » [ السجدۃ : ۱۱] "Say, the Angel of Death will take you."
From {’’ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا ‘‘} it is understood that there are several angels of death, and in several verses, the taking of souls is attributed to Allah Almighty, as He said: «اَللّٰهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْاَنْفُسَ حِيْنَ مَوْتِهَا» [ الزمر : ۴۲ ] "Allah takes the souls at the time of their death." Considering all these verses, the correct understanding is that the one who takes the soul is Allah Almighty Himself, by whose command everything happens. Then there is Malak al-Mawt, who according to most scholars is one, but he has assisting angels of mercy and punishment, as mentioned in the verse under exegesis and in the hadith of Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with them both), that with Malak al-Mawt are also angels of mercy and punishment.
➍ {وَ هُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُوْنَ:} That is, when they seize a soul, they do so by Allah's command at its appointed time, neither before nor after.
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.
61. 1. That is, in this entrusted task and in the protection of the soul, in fact, that angel, if the dying person is righteous, sends his soul to عِلِّیِّیْنَ, and if he is wicked, then to سِجِّیْنَ.
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.
61. And He is the Supreme over His servants, and He sends guardians (angels) [66] over you. Until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take his soul, and they do not neglect (their duty) in the least [67].
[66] Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said: Among you, angels of the day and angels of the night come in succession, one after the other. They gather at the times of Asr and Fajr prayers. Then those angels who stayed with you during the night ascend, and Allah Almighty asks them, "In what condition did you leave My servants?" although He knows best about them. The angels reply, "When we left them, they were praying," and "when we came to them, they were praying as well."
[بخاری۔ کتاب مواقیت الصلٰوۃ۔ باب فضل صلٰوۃ العصر۔ بخاری کتاب التوحید۔ باب قول اللہ تعرج الملئکۃ والروح الیہ]
The Angels Who Guard and Record Deeds:
In this hadith, there is mention of those angels who compile the record of a person's deeds. The angels of the night are separate, and those of the day are separate. In addition to them, there are also some angels who protect his life. Sometimes such incidents occur when a person sees death standing before him, but the situation turns in such a way that his life is saved, and he himself admits, "At that moment, it was only Allah who saved my life," or "There was still life left, otherwise there seemed to be no way of survival." And this happens because the appointed time of that person's death has not yet arrived. The Quran has described this reality at another place in these words: ﴿قُلْ مَنْ يَّكْلَؤُكُمْ بالَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ﴾ All the stages of human life and death are compelled. At the beginning of this verse, Allah Almighty said: ﴿وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهٖ﴾ That is, all creatures and humans are utterly helpless and compelled before the natural laws of Allah Almighty. In the mother's womb, Allah Almighty fashioned every person's form and appearance as He Himself willed. He had no say in it. Then, when he was born and came out of his mother's womb, even then he had no say in it. Then, after being born, he is compelled to eat and drink so that he may be nurtured and raised. Similarly, he is compelled to pass through the stages of childhood, youth, and old age, and is also compelled in sexual relations, but in producing offspring, he has no say. If Allah wills, He can make a poor person have many children, and if He wills, He can deprive a wealthy person of children. Then, he is also compelled in his death and in completing the days of his life; until his appointed time of death comes, no matter what calamities befall him, the angels continue to protect his life, and when the appointed time arrives, no wise man, no doctor, nor his wealth and closest relatives can save him from the jaws of death. Then, in the acquisition of sustenance, he is also greatly compelled. Every person wishes to become wealthy, but he receives only as much sustenance as is destined for him, and what is destined for him, he will surely receive. Similarly, man is compelled in the stages after death, that is, being resurrected again, being presented before Allah for the accountability of his deeds, and receiving reward or punishment for those deeds, and nothing can save him from these outcomes, nor can anything come in between, and in all these matters, his own will has no role whatsoever, and this is the meaning of this phrase. [67] That is, they do not show any negligence in their duty. Not a single small act, deed, or word of a person is left unwritten by the angels in his record of deeds. Nor do they fail to protect the one whose time of death has not yet come, nor does anyone die before the appointed time. Nor does it happen that someone's appointed time has come, but his soul is not taken, or that death is decreed for Zaid, but instead the soul of Bakr is taken. None of these situations is possible. They cannot make any addition or omission in the command given by Allah Almighty.
[66] Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said: Among you, angels of the day and angels of the night come in succession, one after the other. They gather at the times of Asr and Fajr prayers. Then those angels who stayed with you during the night ascend, and Allah Almighty asks them, "In what condition did you leave My servants?" although He knows best about them. The angels reply, "When we left them, they were praying," and "when we came to them, they were praying as well."
[بخاری۔ کتاب مواقیت الصلٰوۃ۔ باب فضل صلٰوۃ العصر۔ بخاری کتاب التوحید۔ باب قول اللہ تعرج الملئکۃ والروح الیہ]
The Angels Who Guard and Record Deeds:
In this hadith, there is mention of those angels who compile the record of a person's deeds. The angels of the night are separate, and those of the day are separate. In addition to them, there are also some angels who protect his life. Sometimes such incidents occur when a person sees death standing before him, but the situation turns in such a way that his life is saved, and he himself admits, "At that moment, it was only Allah who saved my life," or "There was still life left, otherwise there seemed to be no way of survival." And this happens because the appointed time of that person's death has not yet arrived. The Quran has described this reality at another place in these words: ﴿قُلْ مَنْ يَّكْلَؤُكُمْ بالَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ﴾ All the stages of human life and death are compelled. At the beginning of this verse, Allah Almighty said: ﴿وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهٖ﴾ That is, all creatures and humans are utterly helpless and compelled before the natural laws of Allah Almighty. In the mother's womb, Allah Almighty fashioned every person's form and appearance as He Himself willed. He had no say in it. Then, when he was born and came out of his mother's womb, even then he had no say in it. Then, after being born, he is compelled to eat and drink so that he may be nurtured and raised. Similarly, he is compelled to pass through the stages of childhood, youth, and old age, and is also compelled in sexual relations, but in producing offspring, he has no say. If Allah wills, He can make a poor person have many children, and if He wills, He can deprive a wealthy person of children. Then, he is also compelled in his death and in completing the days of his life; until his appointed time of death comes, no matter what calamities befall him, the angels continue to protect his life, and when the appointed time arrives, no wise man, no doctor, nor his wealth and closest relatives can save him from the jaws of death. Then, in the acquisition of sustenance, he is also greatly compelled. Every person wishes to become wealthy, but he receives only as much sustenance as is destined for him, and what is destined for him, he will surely receive. Similarly, man is compelled in the stages after death, that is, being resurrected again, being presented before Allah for the accountability of his deeds, and receiving reward or punishment for those deeds, and nothing can save him from these outcomes, nor can anything come in between, and in all these matters, his own will has no role whatsoever, and this is the meaning of this phrase. [67] That is, they do not show any negligence in their duty. Not a single small act, deed, or word of a person is left unwritten by the angels in his record of deeds. Nor do they fail to protect the one whose time of death has not yet come, nor does anyone die before the appointed time. Nor does it happen that someone's appointed time has come, but his soul is not taken, or that death is decreed for Zaid, but instead the soul of Bakr is taken. None of these situations is possible. They cannot make any addition or omission in the command given by Allah Almighty.
