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 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.
(Ayah28) ➊ { الَّذِيْنَ تَتَوَفّٰىهُمُ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةُ … : ’’ فَاَلْقَوُا ‘‘ ’’أَلْقٰي يُلْقِيْ‘‘} is the third person masculine plural perfect verb from (افعال). The meaning is future, because it is as certain as the past. The word {’’ اِلْقَاءٌ‘‘} is used for bodies, as it is said: {’’فُلاَنٌ أَلْقَي السِّلَاحَ‘‘} that so-and-so threw down his weapons, meaning he surrendered himself. The meaning of {’’ السَّلَمَ ‘‘} is {’’اِسْتِسْلَامٌ‘‘}, that is, to be completely submissive and obedient.
➋ { ظَالِمِيْۤ اَنْفُسِهِمْ:} here refers to the disbelievers, because {’’ الَّذِيْنَ تَتَوَفّٰىهُمْ ‘‘} in the previous verse is the attribute of {’’ الْكٰفِرِيْنَ ‘‘}, and the greatest injustice to oneself is disbelief and polytheism. (See Al-An'am: 21) The mention of the angels taking their souls while they are wrongdoers also hints at the severity that these wrongdoers face at that time. For details, see Surah Al-An'am (93) and Surah Al-Anfal (50). In the lengthy hadith of Bara' bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with them both), the treatment of the angels with the believer and the disbeliever at the time of death is described in detail. [ مسند أحمد : ۴ /۲۸۷، ۲۸۸، ح : ۱۸۵۶۱۔ أبوداوٗد : ۴۷۵۳ ]
➌ { مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِنْ سُوْٓءٍ :} means that they spent their whole lives opposing and fighting the believers, but now, when the reality becomes clear, they will express their obedience, saying that we never did anything wrong. There, they will blatantly lie, thinking that just as their lies worked in the world, they will work here too, and they will even swear oaths on it. See Surah Al-An'am (22, 23) and Surah Al-Mujadila (18).
➋ { ظَالِمِيْۤ اَنْفُسِهِمْ:} here refers to the disbelievers, because {’’ الَّذِيْنَ تَتَوَفّٰىهُمْ ‘‘} in the previous verse is the attribute of {’’ الْكٰفِرِيْنَ ‘‘}, and the greatest injustice to oneself is disbelief and polytheism. (See Al-An'am: 21) The mention of the angels taking their souls while they are wrongdoers also hints at the severity that these wrongdoers face at that time. For details, see Surah Al-An'am (93) and Surah Al-Anfal (50). In the lengthy hadith of Bara' bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with them both), the treatment of the angels with the believer and the disbeliever at the time of death is described in detail. [ مسند أحمد : ۴ /۲۸۷، ۲۸۸، ح : ۱۸۵۶۱۔ أبوداوٗد : ۴۷۵۳ ]
➌ { مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِنْ سُوْٓءٍ :} means that they spent their whole lives opposing and fighting the believers, but now, when the reality becomes clear, they will express their obedience, saying that we never did anything wrong. There, they will blatantly lie, thinking that just as their lies worked in the world, they will work here too, and they will even swear oaths on it. See Surah Al-An'am (22, 23) and Surah Al-Mujadila (18).
