سُوْرَةُ الرَّعْدِ
Surah Ar-Ra'd (13) — Ayah 11
لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَـٰتٌ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوٓءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
For him (each person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allâh. Verily! Allâh will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allâh). But when Allâh wills a people’s punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَهُۥ
lahu
For him
مُعَقِّبَـٰتٌۭ
muʿaqqibātun
(are) successive (Angels)
مِّنۢ
min
from
بَيْنِ
bayni
(before)
يَدَيْهِ
yadayhi
(him)
وَمِنْ
wamin
and from
خَلْفِهِۦ
khalfihi
and behind him
يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ
yaḥfaẓūnahu
who guard him
مِنْ
min
by
أَمْرِ
amri
(the) command
ٱللَّهِ ۗ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
لَا
lā
(does) not
يُغَيِّرُ
yughayyiru
change
مَا
mā
(the condition)
بِقَوْمٍ
biqawmin
of a people
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يُغَيِّرُوا۟
yughayyirū
they change
مَا
mā
what
بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ
bi-anfusihim
(is) in themselves
وَإِذَآ
wa-idhā
And when
أَرَادَ
arāda
wills
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
بِقَوْمٍۢ
biqawmin
for a people
سُوٓءًۭا
sūan
misfortune
فَلَا
falā
then (there is) no
مَرَدَّ
maradda
turning away
لَهُۥ ۚ
lahu
of it
وَمَا
wamā
and not
لَهُم
lahum
for them
مِّن
min
from
دُونِهِۦ
dūnihi
besides Him
مِن
min
any
وَالٍ
wālin
protector
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
For each person, there are successive angels before and behind him, guarding him by Allah’s command [16]. Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves [17]. And when Allah intends harm for a people, there is no turning it back, nor can they find any protector against Him [18].
[16]
Guardian Angels and Hidden Causes:
That is, in this world, not only apparent causes are at work, but there are also many hidden causes which man cannot see, and every person experiences this. Often we see that a person faces such a severe accident that, apparently, survival seems impossible, yet he remains completely safe from that accident. At such moments, these words spontaneously come to our tongues: "Whom Allah protects, who can harm him?" The clarification of these unseen causes is given in this verse, that these are not mere coincidences, but rather, there are angels appointed by Allah who protect a person from such terrifying situations and continue to guard him until his appointed time of death arrives. And when the time of death comes, then all of man's strategies become futile.
[17] For the explanation of this sentence, see the footnote of verse 53 of Surah Al-Anfal.
[18]
The Law of Rise and Fall of Nations:
The noteworthy point in the law of the rise and fall of nations is that when, collectively, a nation reaches the lowest depths of moral decline and becomes involved in the commission of sins, then from that very moment its downfall begins, even if, in worldly terms, it has reached the highest level of civilization and culture. After that, if it reforms itself, then good; otherwise, gradually, it is wiped out from this world. Then, no power can save it from its decline and downfall, nor can anything delay this punishment for even a short period.
[16]
Guardian Angels and Hidden Causes:
That is, in this world, not only apparent causes are at work, but there are also many hidden causes which man cannot see, and every person experiences this. Often we see that a person faces such a severe accident that, apparently, survival seems impossible, yet he remains completely safe from that accident. At such moments, these words spontaneously come to our tongues: "Whom Allah protects, who can harm him?" The clarification of these unseen causes is given in this verse, that these are not mere coincidences, but rather, there are angels appointed by Allah who protect a person from such terrifying situations and continue to guard him until his appointed time of death arrives. And when the time of death comes, then all of man's strategies become futile.
[17] For the explanation of this sentence, see the footnote of verse 53 of Surah Al-Anfal.
[18]
The Law of Rise and Fall of Nations:
The noteworthy point in the law of the rise and fall of nations is that when, collectively, a nation reaches the lowest depths of moral decline and becomes involved in the commission of sins, then from that very moment its downfall begins, even if, in worldly terms, it has reached the highest level of civilization and culture. After that, if it reforms itself, then good; otherwise, gradually, it is wiped out from this world. Then, no power can save it from its decline and downfall, nor can anything delay this punishment for even a short period.
