Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The Day that Ar-Rûh [Jibrîl (Gabriel) or another angel] and the angels will stand forth in rows, they will not speak except him whom the Most Gracious (Allâh) allows, and he will speak what is right.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَوْمَyawma(The) Day
يَقُومُyaqūmuwill stand
ٱلرُّوحُl-rūḥuthe Spirit
وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُwal-malāikatuand the Angels
صَفًّۭا ۖṣaffan(in) rows
لَّاlānot
يَتَكَلَّمُونَyatakallamūnathey will speak
إِلَّاillāexcept
مَنْman(one) who
أَذِنَadhinapermits
لَهُlahu[for] him
ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُl-raḥmānuthe Most Gracious
وَقَالَwaqālaand he (will) say
صَوَابًۭاṣawāban(what is) correct
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 38) ➊ By {يَوْمَيَقُوْمُالرُّوْحُوَالْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةُصَفًّا …:’’ الرُّوْحُ ‘‘} is meant Jibreel (Gabriel), peace be upon him, as He said: « نَزَلَبِهِالرُّوْحُالْاَمِيْنُ »[ الشعراء : ۱۹۳ ] "The trustworthy spirit has brought it down." His separate mention is to express the greatness of his status, as in Surah Al-Baqarah: « مَنْكَانَعَدُوًّالِّلّٰهِوَمَلٰٓىِٕكَتِهٖوَرُسُلِهٖوَجِبْرِيْلَوَمِيْكٰىلَفَاِنَّاللّٰهَعَدُوٌّلِّلْكٰفِرِيْنَ »[ البقرۃ : ۹۸ ] "Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and His messengers and Jibreel and Mikael, then indeed Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers." The second meaning, which is apparent from the word, is the souls of the children of Adam.
➋ According to authentic (Sahih) ahadith, this refers to the time when Allah Almighty will descend from the heavens to the earth in the field of resurrection for the decision between the righteous and the wicked, and people will be distressed by the heat of the sun and their sweat, and they will go to all the prophets from Adam (peace be upon him) to Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) so that they may intercede with Allah Almighty for the reckoning to begin, but no prophet will have the courage or strength to speak to Allah Almighty. In the end, the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), will be commanded to speak, and by his intercession, the reckoning of all people will begin. (Ahsan al-Tafasir) See Sahih Bukhari (7440, 7510).
➌ For { لَايَتَكَلَّمُوْنَاِلَّامَنْ … :}, on the Day of Resurrection, there are two conditions for one who will speak (intercede) with Allah Almighty: the first is that the Most Merciful grants him permission to speak (intercede), as He said: « مَنْذَاالَّذِيْيَشْفَعُعِنْدَهٗۤاِلَّابِاِذْنِهٖ »[ البقرۃ : ۲۵۵ ] "Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?" The second is that he speaks rightly, and does not err in intercession, for example, he should not intercede for one who is not deserving, as Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him) will not be able to intercede for his father Azar. Another interpretation is that for the one on whose behalf intercession is sought with Allah Almighty, there are two conditions: the first is that the Most Merciful grants permission for intercession on his behalf, as He said: « لَايَشْفَعُوْنَاِلَّالِمَنِارْتَضٰى »[ الأنبیاء : ۲۸ ] "They (the angels) do not intercede except for him whom He approves." The second is that {’’ قَالَصَوَابًا ‘‘} that is, in the world he spoke rightly, meaning he said the word of Tawheed, he was a Muslim. The disbeliever and polytheist did not speak rightly in the world, so permission for intercession will not be granted on his behalf. (Jami' al-Bayan)
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.
38. 1. This permission Allah will grant to those angels and His messengers, and whatever they will say will be truth and correctness, or the meaning is that permission will be given only regarding the one who has spoken rightly, that is, the one who has affirmed the word of Tawheed.
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.
38. On the Day when Gabriel and all the angels will stand in rows, none will speak except the one to whom the Most Merciful grants permission, and who speaks what is right [25].
[25] ﴿وقال صوابا﴾ can have two meanings: one is that the intercessor will only be able to intercede on behalf of the person who spoke the correct word in the world, and by the correct word is meant the word of Tawheed, that is, ﴿لا اله الا الله﴾. That is, intercession can be made for such a sinner who remained firm on Tawheed and obedient to Allah. But no intercession can be made on behalf of a polytheist or a rebel against Allah. According to the second meaning, both these attributes belong to the intercessor. That is, only that person will be able to intercede who is granted permission by Allah, and at the time of intercession, he will only say what is correct and in accordance with Allah’s pleasure. That is, regarding the sin for which Allah wishes to accept intercession for a sinner, the intercessor will only intercede for that.