سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 28
ٱلَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا۟ ٱلسَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوٓءٍۭ ۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿28﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"Those whose lives the angels take while they are doing wrong to themselves (by disbelief and by associating partners in worship with Allâh and by committing all kinds of crimes and evil deeds)." Then, they will make (false) submission (saying): "We used not to do any evil." (The angels will reply): "Yes! Truly, Allâh is All-Knower of what you used to do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
Those whom
تَتَوَفَّىٰهُمُ
tatawaffāhumu
take them in death
ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ
l-malāikatu
the Angels
ظَالِمِىٓ
ẓālimī
(while) wronging
أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ
anfusihim
themselves
فَأَلْقَوُا۟
fa-alqawū
then they would offer
ٱلسَّلَمَ
l-salama
the submission
مَا
mā
Not
كُنَّا
kunnā
we were
نَعْمَلُ
naʿmalu
doing
مِن
min
any
سُوٓءٍۭ ۚ
sūin
evil
بَلَىٰٓ
balā
Nay
إِنَّ
inna
indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
عَلِيمٌۢ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knower
بِمَا
bimā
of what
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you used (to)
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
do
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.
28. 1. This describes the state of the polytheist wrongdoers at the time of their death, when the angels seize their souls and they start speaking of reconciliation, that is, displaying obedience and humility, they say, "We did not do evil." Just as on the Day of Resurrection, in the presence of Allah, they will also swear false oaths and say, "By Allah, we were not polytheists." In another place it is said, "The Day when Allah will raise them all up and gather them to Himself, they will swear to Him just as they swear to you."
28. 2. The angels will reply, "Why not?" That is, you are lying; your whole life was spent in evil, and with Allah your record of deeds is preserved. What good will this denial do now?
28. 2. The angels will reply, "Why not?" That is, you are lying; your whole life was spent in evil, and with Allah your record of deeds is preserved. What good will this denial do now?
