سُوْرَةُ سَبَاٍ
Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 40
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ أَهَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِيَّاكُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْبُدُونَ ﴿40﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (remember) the Day when He will gather them all together, then He will say to the angels: "Was it you that these people used to worship?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَيَوْمَ
wayawma
And (the) Day
يَحْشُرُهُمْ
yaḥshuruhum
He will gather them
جَمِيعًۭا
jamīʿan
all
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
يَقُولُ
yaqūlu
He will say
لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ
lil'malāikati
to the Angels
أَهَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ
ahāulāi
Were these you
إِيَّاكُمْ
iyyākum
Were these you
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they were
يَعْبُدُونَ
yaʿbudūna
worshipping
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.
40. And on the Day when Allah will gather them all together, then He will say to the angels [62], "Was it you these people used to worship?"
[62]
The Common Aspect Between Idol Worship and Grave Worship:
Whether the polytheists were from the time of the Prophet ﷺ, before him, or after him, they did not say that they worship these idols or these graves. Rather, behind their belief was an entire fabricated philosophy. For example, those who worship the sun first create an imaginary concept or image of the sun's spirit, then they make a statue according to this imaginary image. Then they believe that the spirit of the sun remains connected to this statue at all times, and when they worship the statue of the sun, in reality, they are not worshipping the idol itself but are worshipping the sun deity. The polytheists had made many such goddesses and gods. Then these statues were not only of the manifestations of nature but also of certain attributes. And these attributes were also attributed to the planets. For example, such-and-such is the goddess of knowledge, such-and-such is the goddess of wealth, and so on. Then some polytheists would make imaginary statues of angels and worship them. A large number of the polytheists of Arabia were such that they considered the angels to be the daughters of Allah. And when they made statues of Lat, Manat, and Uzza and worshipped them, they believed that they were not worshipping these idols but rather the angels whose spirits remained connected to these statues or idols. In the same way, grave worshippers also believe that they are not worshippers of the grave itself, but all their devotions and offerings are for the occupant of the grave, whose spirit remains connected to his grave.
The Question About Divinity to the Angels:
Since among all these objects of worship, the angels are the most superior creation, therefore, on the Day of Resurrection, Allah Almighty will question them to shame them and to fill them with regret: Did these people worship you? Did you tell them to worship you? Or did you have any such desire? It should be clear that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah Almighty will ask such questions not only from the angels but also from other objects of worship, and such a question regarding Hazrat Isa ؑ is mentioned in detail and explicitly in the Quran.
[62]
The Common Aspect Between Idol Worship and Grave Worship:
Whether the polytheists were from the time of the Prophet ﷺ, before him, or after him, they did not say that they worship these idols or these graves. Rather, behind their belief was an entire fabricated philosophy. For example, those who worship the sun first create an imaginary concept or image of the sun's spirit, then they make a statue according to this imaginary image. Then they believe that the spirit of the sun remains connected to this statue at all times, and when they worship the statue of the sun, in reality, they are not worshipping the idol itself but are worshipping the sun deity. The polytheists had made many such goddesses and gods. Then these statues were not only of the manifestations of nature but also of certain attributes. And these attributes were also attributed to the planets. For example, such-and-such is the goddess of knowledge, such-and-such is the goddess of wealth, and so on. Then some polytheists would make imaginary statues of angels and worship them. A large number of the polytheists of Arabia were such that they considered the angels to be the daughters of Allah. And when they made statues of Lat, Manat, and Uzza and worshipped them, they believed that they were not worshipping these idols but rather the angels whose spirits remained connected to these statues or idols. In the same way, grave worshippers also believe that they are not worshippers of the grave itself, but all their devotions and offerings are for the occupant of the grave, whose spirit remains connected to his grave.
The Question About Divinity to the Angels:
Since among all these objects of worship, the angels are the most superior creation, therefore, on the Day of Resurrection, Allah Almighty will question them to shame them and to fill them with regret: Did these people worship you? Did you tell them to worship you? Or did you have any such desire? It should be clear that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah Almighty will ask such questions not only from the angels but also from other objects of worship, and such a question regarding Hazrat Isa ؑ is mentioned in detail and explicitly in the Quran.
