سُوْرَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ
Surah Fussilat (41) — Ayah 38
فَإِنِ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَٱلَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ يُسَبِّحُونَ لَهُۥ بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْـَٔمُونَ ۩ ﴿38﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
But if they are too proud[3] (to do so), then there are those who are with your Lord (angels) glorify Him night and day, and never are they tired.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَإِنِ
fa-ini
But if
ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟
is'takbarū
they are arrogant
فَٱلَّذِينَ
fa-alladhīna
then those who
عِندَ
ʿinda
(are) near
رَبِّكَ
rabbika
your Lord
يُسَبِّحُونَ
yusabbiḥūna
glorify
لَهُۥ
lahu
Him
بِٱلَّيْلِ
bi-al-layli
by night
وَٱلنَّهَارِ
wal-nahāri
and day
وَهُمْ
wahum
And they
لَا
lā
(do) not
يَسْـَٔمُونَ ۩
yasamūna
tire
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 {فَاِنِ اسْتَكْبَرُوْا:} "Then if they are arrogant"—that is, even after hearing all this, if they consider abandoning their own stance to be humiliation, persist in prostrating to the sun, moon, and creation, and due to their false honor and pride, continue to insist on ignorance and polytheism.
➋ That is, if the polytheists have become so arrogant and proud that they consider prostrating to Allah alone to be beneath their dignity, then let them think so; Allah Almighty is not in need of them. His greatness is such that the closest angels who are with Him, who carry His Throne, or stand humbly around or beneath the Throne (see Al-Mu’min: 7), through whom the affairs of the entire universe are managed, all glorify Him day and night, that is, they bear witness and proclaim that their Master is free from any partner in His Lordship or in being the only true deity. See also Surah Al-Anbiya (19, 20) and Surah Al-A’raf (206). Now, if a few fools do not understand even after being explained, and reject the testimony of the entire universe, persisting in their false notions of honor and greatness, they will only harm themselves; they will not harm Allah Almighty in the least. In this, there is also consolation for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.
➌ Those who deny the Divine Throne and do not accept that Allah Almighty is separate from the universe and above all, and say that Allah Almighty is neither above nor below, neither inside the universe nor outside it, make strange interpretations of the word {’’ فَالَّذِيْنَ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ ‘‘} (those angels who are with your Lord). Sometimes they say it means that they have a high status and rank with the Lord Almighty, sometimes they say something else, but the explicit words about the angels carrying the Throne of the Most Merciful shatter all such interpretations. For details, see Surah Al-Mu’min (7) and Surah Al-Haqqah (17).
➋ That is, if the polytheists have become so arrogant and proud that they consider prostrating to Allah alone to be beneath their dignity, then let them think so; Allah Almighty is not in need of them. His greatness is such that the closest angels who are with Him, who carry His Throne, or stand humbly around or beneath the Throne (see Al-Mu’min: 7), through whom the affairs of the entire universe are managed, all glorify Him day and night, that is, they bear witness and proclaim that their Master is free from any partner in His Lordship or in being the only true deity. See also Surah Al-Anbiya (19, 20) and Surah Al-A’raf (206). Now, if a few fools do not understand even after being explained, and reject the testimony of the entire universe, persisting in their false notions of honor and greatness, they will only harm themselves; they will not harm Allah Almighty in the least. In this, there is also consolation for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.
➌ Those who deny the Divine Throne and do not accept that Allah Almighty is separate from the universe and above all, and say that Allah Almighty is neither above nor below, neither inside the universe nor outside it, make strange interpretations of the word {’’ فَالَّذِيْنَ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ ‘‘} (those angels who are with your Lord). Sometimes they say it means that they have a high status and rank with the Lord Almighty, sometimes they say something else, but the explicit words about the angels carrying the Throne of the Most Merciful shatter all such interpretations. For details, see Surah Al-Mu’min (7) and Surah Al-Haqqah (17).
