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 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 30) ➊ From these verses, it is understood that angels are a separate creation and they existed before the creation of humans. In the definition of faith, after belief in Allah, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) mentioned belief in the angels. [ بخاری، الإیمان، باب سؤال جبریل النبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم …: ۵۰ ] Declaring righteous humans or forces of goodness as angels is, in fact, a denial of their existence, which is contrary to faith.
➋ A khalifah is one who becomes a successor after someone’s death or in the case of their absence, or acts as a deputy in some matters when the original cannot carry out all affairs himself. Here, it is not correct to take khalifah as the khalifah of Allah, because neither will Allah die, nor is He absent, nor does He need anyone’s help in His works. Rather, according to Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) {’’ قَوْمًا يَخْلُفُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا قَرْنًا بَعْدَ قَرْنٍ جِيْلاً بَعْدَ جِيْلٍ‘‘} that is, by khalifah are meant those people who will succeed one another generation after generation. Similarly, by khalifah is not meant only Adam (peace be upon him), but the entire human race. The proof of this is that spreading corruption and bloodshed on earth was not the act of Adam (peace be upon him), but of the children of Adam. [ ابن کثیر ]
➌ How did the angels know that humans would cause corruption on earth? The answer is that Allah Himself had informed them. The proof is their statement: “We have no knowledge except what You have taught us.” The question of the angels was not an objection, but to understand the wisdom behind the creation of humans.
➋ A khalifah is one who becomes a successor after someone’s death or in the case of their absence, or acts as a deputy in some matters when the original cannot carry out all affairs himself. Here, it is not correct to take khalifah as the khalifah of Allah, because neither will Allah die, nor is He absent, nor does He need anyone’s help in His works. Rather, according to Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) {’’ قَوْمًا يَخْلُفُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا قَرْنًا بَعْدَ قَرْنٍ جِيْلاً بَعْدَ جِيْلٍ‘‘} that is, by khalifah are meant those people who will succeed one another generation after generation. Similarly, by khalifah is not meant only Adam (peace be upon him), but the entire human race. The proof of this is that spreading corruption and bloodshed on earth was not the act of Adam (peace be upon him), but of the children of Adam. [ ابن کثیر ]
➌ How did the angels know that humans would cause corruption on earth? The answer is that Allah Himself had informed them. The proof is their statement: “We have no knowledge except what You have taught us.” The question of the angels was not an objection, but to understand the wisdom behind the creation of humans.
