سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 30
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿30﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: "Verily, I am going to place (mankind) generations after generations on earth." They said: "Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood, - while we glorify You with praises and thanks and sanctify You." He (Allâh) said: "I know that which you do not know."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذْ
wa-idh
And when
قَالَ
qāla
said
رَبُّكَ
rabbuka
your Lord
لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ
lil'malāikati
to the angels
إِنِّى
innī
Indeed, I (am)
جَاعِلٌۭ
jāʿilun
going to place
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
خَلِيفَةًۭ ۖ
khalīfatan
a vicegerent
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
they said
أَتَجْعَلُ
atajʿalu
Will You place
فِيهَا
fīhā
in it
مَن
man
(one) who
يُفْسِدُ
yuf'sidu
will spread corruption
فِيهَا
fīhā
in it
وَيَسْفِكُ
wayasfiku
and will shed
ٱلدِّمَآءَ
l-dimāa
[the] blood[s]
وَنَحْنُ
wanaḥnu
while we
نُسَبِّحُ
nusabbiḥu
[we] glorify (You)
بِحَمْدِكَ
biḥamdika
with Your praises
وَنُقَدِّسُ
wanuqaddisu
and we sanctify
لَكَ ۖ
laka
[to] You
قَالَ
qāla
He said
إِنِّىٓ
innī
Indeed, I
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
[I] know
مَا
mā
what
لَا
lā
not
تَعْلَمُونَ
taʿlamūna
you know
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.
30. 1. مَلاَئِکَۃُ (Angels) Angels are Allah's creation made of light, whose abode is the heavens. They are engaged in carrying out commands and in His praise and sanctification, and they never disobey any of His orders.
30. 2. By خَلِیْفَۃُ is meant a people who will come one after another, and to say that man is Allah's vicegerent and deputy in this world is incorrect.
30. 3. The angels' statement was not out of envy or objection, but rather to know the reality and wisdom behind it: "O Lord, what is the wisdom in creating this creature when there will be some among them who will spread corruption and shed blood? If the purpose is Your worship, then we are present for that task, and we do not have the dangers that are expected from the new creation." Allah said, "I know better the wisdom for which, despite the mentioned evils, I am creating them, which you do not know, because among them will be prophets, martyrs, and the righteous." (Ibn Kathir)
30. 2. By خَلِیْفَۃُ is meant a people who will come one after another, and to say that man is Allah's vicegerent and deputy in this world is incorrect.
30. 3. The angels' statement was not out of envy or objection, but rather to know the reality and wisdom behind it: "O Lord, what is the wisdom in creating this creature when there will be some among them who will spread corruption and shed blood? If the purpose is Your worship, then we are present for that task, and we do not have the dangers that are expected from the new creation." Allah said, "I know better the wisdom for which, despite the mentioned evils, I am creating them, which you do not know, because among them will be prophets, martyrs, and the righteous." (Ibn Kathir)
