سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 50
يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ۩ ﴿50﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَخَافُونَ
yakhāfūna
They fear
رَبَّهُم
rabbahum
their Lord
مِّن
min
above them
فَوْقِهِمْ
fawqihim
above them
وَيَفْعَلُونَ
wayafʿalūna
and they do
مَا
mā
what
يُؤْمَرُونَ ۩
yu'marūna
they are commanded
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.
50. They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded [49].
[49] When no one else has any share in the creation and management of this universe, then how can they benefit or harm you? And if they are powerless and incapable in both these matters, then what is the need for you to fear them? One should fear only the One who has control over this universe. And that is only Allah Almighty alone, therefore worship should be done purely for Him alone, all your needs should be presented before Him alone, and only this path can be considered reasonable.
Prostration of Recitation is Not Obligatory:
One should perform prostration (sajdah) on this verse, however, the prostration of recitation is not obligatory. Thus, Rabi’ah bin Abdullah bin Hudair Taimi says that once Sayyiduna Umarؓ recited Surah An-Nahl on the pulpit on a Friday. When he reached the verse of prostration, he descended from the pulpit and performed prostration, and the people also performed prostration with him. On the next Friday, he again recited the same Surah. When he reached the verse of prostration, he said: "People! We continue to recite the verse of prostration, so whoever performs prostration has done well, and whoever does not, there is no sin upon him." And Sayyiduna Umarؓ did not perform prostration, and Nafi’ narrated from Ibn Umarؓ that Allah Almighty has not made the prostration of recitation obligatory; He has left it to our discretion. [بخاری، کتاب الصلوۃ۔ باب من رای ان اللہ عز و جل لم یوجب السجود]
[49] When no one else has any share in the creation and management of this universe, then how can they benefit or harm you? And if they are powerless and incapable in both these matters, then what is the need for you to fear them? One should fear only the One who has control over this universe. And that is only Allah Almighty alone, therefore worship should be done purely for Him alone, all your needs should be presented before Him alone, and only this path can be considered reasonable.
Prostration of Recitation is Not Obligatory:
One should perform prostration (sajdah) on this verse, however, the prostration of recitation is not obligatory. Thus, Rabi’ah bin Abdullah bin Hudair Taimi says that once Sayyiduna Umarؓ recited Surah An-Nahl on the pulpit on a Friday. When he reached the verse of prostration, he descended from the pulpit and performed prostration, and the people also performed prostration with him. On the next Friday, he again recited the same Surah. When he reached the verse of prostration, he said: "People! We continue to recite the verse of prostration, so whoever performs prostration has done well, and whoever does not, there is no sin upon him." And Sayyiduna Umarؓ did not perform prostration, and Nafi’ narrated from Ibn Umarؓ that Allah Almighty has not made the prostration of recitation obligatory; He has left it to our discretion. [بخاری، کتاب الصلوۃ۔ باب من رای ان اللہ عز و جل لم یوجب السجود]
