سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 28
يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلَّا لِمَنِ ٱرْتَضَىٰ وَهُم مِّنْ خَشْيَتِهِۦ مُشْفِقُونَ ﴿28﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَعْلَمُ
yaʿlamu
He knows
مَا
mā
what
بَيْنَ
bayna
(is) before them
أَيْدِيهِمْ
aydīhim
(is) before them
وَمَا
wamā
and what
خَلْفَهُمْ
khalfahum
(is) behind them
وَلَا
walā
and not
يَشْفَعُونَ
yashfaʿūna
they (can) intercede
إِلَّا
illā
except
لِمَنِ
limani
for whom
ٱرْتَضَىٰ
ir'taḍā
He approves
وَهُم
wahum
And they
مِّنْ
min
from
خَشْيَتِهِۦ
khashyatihi
fear of Him
مُشْفِقُونَ
mush'fiqūna
stand in awe
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.
28. Allah knows what is before them (their apparent state) and what is behind them (their hidden state). And they cannot intercede except for the one with whom Allah is pleased [23], and they are ever fearful of Him.
[23]
The Intercession of Angels and Restrictions on Intercessors:
The polytheists of Makkah worshipped the angels for two reasons. First, that they are the children of Allah. Second, because they are our intercessors with Allah and a means of nearness to Him. In response, Allah did not say that they will not intercede, because according to the Book and Sunnah, the intercession of the Prophets, the righteous, the angels, and even the Quran itself is established. Rather, He said that they will only be able to intercede for those for whom Allah approves intercession, and the reason for this is given that the angels do not possess knowledge of the unseen. They do not know the state and condition of the deeds of the one for whom they are interceding, and these circumstances are known only to Allah. Therefore, they will only be able to intercede for those regarding whom Allah grants permission, and they also remain in awe of Allah, so how could they intercede without His permission? Now, if someone does not even know whether he will be granted permission to intercede or not, and especially whether he will be granted permission for a particular person or not, then how can such powerless intercessors be deserving that one should bow in humility before them, stretch out one's hands before them for the fulfillment of needs and removal of difficulties, or call upon them?
[23]
The Intercession of Angels and Restrictions on Intercessors:
The polytheists of Makkah worshipped the angels for two reasons. First, that they are the children of Allah. Second, because they are our intercessors with Allah and a means of nearness to Him. In response, Allah did not say that they will not intercede, because according to the Book and Sunnah, the intercession of the Prophets, the righteous, the angels, and even the Quran itself is established. Rather, He said that they will only be able to intercede for those for whom Allah approves intercession, and the reason for this is given that the angels do not possess knowledge of the unseen. They do not know the state and condition of the deeds of the one for whom they are interceding, and these circumstances are known only to Allah. Therefore, they will only be able to intercede for those regarding whom Allah grants permission, and they also remain in awe of Allah, so how could they intercede without His permission? Now, if someone does not even know whether he will be granted permission to intercede or not, and especially whether he will be granted permission for a particular person or not, then how can such powerless intercessors be deserving that one should bow in humility before them, stretch out one's hands before them for the fulfillment of needs and removal of difficulties, or call upon them?
