سُوْرَةُ قٓ
Surah Qaaf (50) — Ayah 17
إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ ﴿17﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
(Remember) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِذْ
idh
When
يَتَلَقَّى
yatalaqqā
receive
ٱلْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ
l-mutalaqiyāni
the two receivers
عَنِ
ʿani
on
ٱلْيَمِينِ
l-yamīni
the right
وَعَنِ
waʿani
and on
ٱلشِّمَالِ
l-shimāli
the left
قَعِيدٌۭ
qaʿīdun
seated
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 17) ➊ {اِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيٰنِ عَنِ الْيَمِيْنِ:’’تَلَقّٰي يَتَلَقّٰي‘‘} (tafa‘‘ul) to take, to receive. The object of {’’ يَتَلَقَّى ‘‘} and {’’ الْمُتَلَقِّيٰنِ‘‘} is omitted: {’’أَيْ جَمِيْعَ أَقْوَالِهٖ وَ أَفْعَالِهٖ۔‘‘ ’’ اِذْ ‘‘} in the previous verse is the adverbial phrase of {’’ اَقْرَبُ ‘‘}. The meaning is that when the two angels sitting on the right and left of a person are recording his every word and deed, at that time We are closer to him than his jugular vein and We know well the whispers that come into his heart and the secrets of his chest.
➋ { ’’ قَعِيْدٌ ‘‘} means {’’مُقَاعِدٌ‘‘}, just as {’’جَلِيْسٌ‘‘} means {’’مُجَالِسٌ‘‘}. That is, they remain constantly with the person. The word {’’ قَعِيْدٌ ‘‘} (sitting together) is used to describe their state of being alert and watchful, that they are always ready to record any word or deed committed by the person, and there is no question of them ever being separated, negligent, or asleep for even a moment.
➌ Here is a question: the angels are two, but to describe their state, the word {’’ قَعِيْدٌ ‘‘} is used, which is singular; why was it not made dual as {’’قَعِيْدَانِ‘‘}? The commentators have given two answers: one is that it means {’’كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا ‘‘}, that is, each of them is sitting ready. The second is that it is an adjective in the pattern of {’’ قَعِيْدٌ ‘‘ ’’فَعِيْلٌ‘‘}, and {’’فَعِيْلٌ‘‘ } and {’’فَعُوْلٌ‘‘} are used in this way for singular, dual, plural, and both masculine and feminine. Both answers are correct.
➋ { ’’ قَعِيْدٌ ‘‘} means {’’مُقَاعِدٌ‘‘}, just as {’’جَلِيْسٌ‘‘} means {’’مُجَالِسٌ‘‘}. That is, they remain constantly with the person. The word {’’ قَعِيْدٌ ‘‘} (sitting together) is used to describe their state of being alert and watchful, that they are always ready to record any word or deed committed by the person, and there is no question of them ever being separated, negligent, or asleep for even a moment.
➌ Here is a question: the angels are two, but to describe their state, the word {’’ قَعِيْدٌ ‘‘} is used, which is singular; why was it not made dual as {’’قَعِيْدَانِ‘‘}? The commentators have given two answers: one is that it means {’’كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا ‘‘}, that is, each of them is sitting ready. The second is that it is an adjective in the pattern of {’’ قَعِيْدٌ ‘‘ ’’فَعِيْلٌ‘‘}, and {’’فَعِيْلٌ‘‘ } and {’’فَعُوْلٌ‘‘} are used in this way for singular, dual, plural, and both masculine and feminine. Both answers are correct.
