سُوْرَةُ مَرْيَمَ
Surah Maryam (19) — Ayah 64
وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ إِلَّا بِأَمْرِ رَبِّكَ ۖ لَهُۥ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا وَمَا خَلْفَنَا وَمَا بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا ﴿64﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And we (angels) descend not except by the Command of your Lord (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). To Him belongs what is before us and what is behind us, and what is between those two; and your Lord is never forgetful -
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
نَتَنَزَّلُ
natanazzalu
we descend
إِلَّا
illā
except
بِأَمْرِ
bi-amri
by (the) Command
رَبِّكَ ۖ
rabbika
(of) your Lord
لَهُۥ
lahu
To Him (belongs)
مَا
mā
what
بَيْنَ
bayna
(is) before us
أَيْدِينَا
aydīnā
(is) before us
وَمَا
wamā
and what
خَلْفَنَا
khalfanā
(is) behind us
وَمَا
wamā
and what
بَيْنَ
bayna
(is) between
ذَٰلِكَ ۚ
dhālika
that
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كَانَ
kāna
is
رَبُّكَ
rabbuka
your Lord
نَسِيًّۭا
nasiyyan
forgetful
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.
64. And (O Prophet!) We (the angels) do not descend except by the command of your Lord [60]. To Him belongs whatever is before us, whatever is behind us, and whatever is between them, and your Lord is never forgetful.
[60]
The Descent of Angels is Under Allah’s Command:
For the background of revelation and explanation of this verse, consider the following hadiths:
(1) Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas ؓ says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked Jibreel ؑ: “Why do you not come to us more often than you do?” At that time, this verse was revealed: ﴿وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ اِلَّا بِاَمْرِ رَبِّكَ﴾ [بخاري، كتاب التفسير، ترمذي، ابواب التفسير]
(2)
Allah Does Not Forget Anything:
Sayyiduna Abu Darda ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: Whatever Allah has declared lawful in His Book is lawful, and whatever He has declared unlawful is unlawful, and whatever He has remained silent about is pardoned. So accept the pardon given by Allah, for Allah is not forgetful. Then the Prophet ﷺ recited this verse: ﴿وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا﴾ [المستدرك للحاكم، سنده صحيح ج 2 ص 375]
(3) The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, Allah has prescribed some obligations, so do not neglect them; and He has set some limits, so do not transgress them; and He has remained silent about some things , not out of forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.” [دارقطنی، بحوالہ الموافقات للشاطبی مترجم ج 1 ص 219]
What happened was that once the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions were in dire need of guidance and commands from Allah according to the circumstances. Then, after quite some time, Jibreel ؑ came with the relevant instructions and commands. Afterwards, the Prophet ﷺ incidentally mentioned this to Jibreel ؑ, in response to which Jibreel ؑ clarified that they are not independent authorities, but servants under Allah’s command; they can only come when they are commanded, and your Lord is watching everything—He is not forgetful. Rather, even in this delay, there are divine wisdoms.
[60]
The Descent of Angels is Under Allah’s Command:
For the background of revelation and explanation of this verse, consider the following hadiths:
(1) Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas ؓ says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked Jibreel ؑ: “Why do you not come to us more often than you do?” At that time, this verse was revealed: ﴿وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ اِلَّا بِاَمْرِ رَبِّكَ﴾ [بخاري، كتاب التفسير، ترمذي، ابواب التفسير]
(2)
Allah Does Not Forget Anything:
Sayyiduna Abu Darda ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: Whatever Allah has declared lawful in His Book is lawful, and whatever He has declared unlawful is unlawful, and whatever He has remained silent about is pardoned. So accept the pardon given by Allah, for Allah is not forgetful. Then the Prophet ﷺ recited this verse: ﴿وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا﴾ [المستدرك للحاكم، سنده صحيح ج 2 ص 375]
(3) The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, Allah has prescribed some obligations, so do not neglect them; and He has set some limits, so do not transgress them; and He has remained silent about some things , not out of forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.” [دارقطنی، بحوالہ الموافقات للشاطبی مترجم ج 1 ص 219]
What happened was that once the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions were in dire need of guidance and commands from Allah according to the circumstances. Then, after quite some time, Jibreel ؑ came with the relevant instructions and commands. Afterwards, the Prophet ﷺ incidentally mentioned this to Jibreel ؑ, in response to which Jibreel ؑ clarified that they are not independent authorities, but servants under Allah’s command; they can only come when they are commanded, and your Lord is watching everything—He is not forgetful. Rather, even in this delay, there are divine wisdoms.
