سُوْرَةُ الْعَلَقِ
Surah Al-Alaq (96) — Ayah 18
سَنَدْعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ ﴿18﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
We will call out the guards of Hell (to deal with him)!
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
سَنَدْعُ
sanadʿu
We will call
ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ
l-zabāniyata
the Angels of Hell
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.
18. We will call the angels of punishment [12].
[12] The reason for the revelation of this verse becomes clear from the following hadith. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbasؓ says that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to pray (in the Ka'bah). Abu Jahl came and said: "Have I not forbidden you from this act?" He repeated these words three times. When the Prophet ﷺ finished the prayer, he spoke to him harshly. Abu Jahl said: "You know that none has more companions than I do." Allah Almighty revealed this verse: let him call his companions, We will call the angels of Hell. Ibn Abbasؓ says: By Allah! If he had called his companions, Allah's angels would have seized him [ترمذي۔ ابواب التفسير]
Literal Meaning of ﴿زبانيه﴾:
By consensus, ﴿الزبانية﴾ ﴿زبانيه﴾ refers to the angels who inflict the punishment of Hell. ﴿زباني العقرب﴾ means the sting of a scorpion. In this sense, such angels are meant who will inflict extreme pain and merciless. Also, ﴿زبانية﴾ refers to police, and this is the saying of Qatadah, and "zabn" also means to drive out by pushing. Just as in the courts of kings and great people, there are ushers who are kept for the purpose that if the ruler is displeased with someone, they push him out. The meaning is that Abu Jahl may call the people of his assembly, of whom he is so proud, and We will have the angels who inflict punishment deal with them most severely.
[12] The reason for the revelation of this verse becomes clear from the following hadith. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbasؓ says that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to pray (in the Ka'bah). Abu Jahl came and said: "Have I not forbidden you from this act?" He repeated these words three times. When the Prophet ﷺ finished the prayer, he spoke to him harshly. Abu Jahl said: "You know that none has more companions than I do." Allah Almighty revealed this verse: let him call his companions, We will call the angels of Hell. Ibn Abbasؓ says: By Allah! If he had called his companions, Allah's angels would have seized him [ترمذي۔ ابواب التفسير]
Literal Meaning of ﴿زبانيه﴾:
By consensus, ﴿الزبانية﴾ ﴿زبانيه﴾ refers to the angels who inflict the punishment of Hell. ﴿زباني العقرب﴾ means the sting of a scorpion. In this sense, such angels are meant who will inflict extreme pain and merciless. Also, ﴿زبانية﴾ refers to police, and this is the saying of Qatadah, and "zabn" also means to drive out by pushing. Just as in the courts of kings and great people, there are ushers who are kept for the purpose that if the ruler is displeased with someone, they push him out. The meaning is that Abu Jahl may call the people of his assembly, of whom he is so proud, and We will have the angels who inflict punishment deal with them most severely.
