Surah Fussilat Ayat 30 (41:30 Quran) With Tafsir

Ala-Maududi

(41:30) Those^[32] who say “Allah is our Lord” and then remain steadfast,^[33] upon them descend angels^[34] (and say): “Do not fear nor grieve,^[35] and receive good tidings of Paradise which you were promised.

32. After warning the disbelievers of the consequences of their opposition to the truth and their stubbornness, the address now turns to the believers and the Prophet (peace be upon him).

33. That is, they did not call Allah their Lord merely incidentally, nor were they involved in the error to regard Allah as their Lord and at the same time others as well as their lords, but they embraced the faith sincerely and stood by it steadfastly: neither adopted a creed contrary to it later nor mixed it up with a false creed, but they fulfilled the demands of the doctrine of Tauhid in their practical lives as well.

“Then remain upright” has been explained by the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the eminent companions thus:

Anas has reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Many people called Allah their Lord, but most of them became disbelievers. Firm and steadfast is he who remained firm on this creed till his death. (Ibn Jarir, Nasai, Ibn Abi Hatim).

Abu Bakr Siddiq has explained it thus: Then he did not associate another with Allah: did not attend to any other deity beside Him. (Ibn Jarir).

Umar once recited this verse on the pulpit and said: By God, the steadfast are those who remained firm on obedience to Allah: did not run about from place to place like foxes. (Ibn Jarir).

Uthman says: Performed his deeds sincerely for the sake of Allah only. (Kashsaf).

Ali says: Performed the duties enjoined by Allah faithfully and obediently. (Kashshaf).

34. It is not necessary that the coming down of the angels may be perceptible, and the believers may see them with the eyes, or hear their voices with the ears. Although Allah also sends the angels openly for whomever He wills, generally their coming down for the believers, especially in hard times when they are being persecuted by the enemies of the truth, takes place in imperceptible ways and their voices penetrate into the depths of the heart as peace and tranquility instead of just striking the ear-drums. Some commentators have regarded this coming down of the angels as restricted to the time of death or grave, or the Plain of Resurrection. But if the conditions in which these verses were sent down are kept in view, there remains no doubt that the real object of stating this thing here is to mention the coming down of the angels on those who struggle with their lives in this world in the cause of the truth, so that they are consoled and encouraged and they rest assured that they are not helpless but the angels of Allah are at their back. Although the angels also come to receive the believers at the time of death and they also welcome them in the grave (in the state of burzakh), and they will also accompany them constantly on the Day of Resurrection, from the time Resurrection takes place till their entry into Paradise, yet their company is not particularly restricted to the Hereafter but remains available in this world also. The context clearly shows that in the conflict between the truth and falsehood just as the worshipers of falsehood are accompanied by the devils and mischievous people, so are the believers accompanied by the angels. On the one hand, the companions of the worshipers of falsehood show their misdeeds seem fair to them and assure them that the tyrannical and dishonest acts that they are committing are the very means of their success and through them only will their leadership and dominance remain safe in the world. On the other hand, the angels come down to the worshipers of the truth and give them the message that is being mentioned in the following sentences.

35. These are very comprehensive words, which contain a new theme of consolation and peace for the believers, in every stage of life, from the world till the Hereafter. This counsel of the angels in this world means: No matter how strong and powerful be the forces of falsehood, you should not be afraid of them, and whatever hardships and deprivations you may have to experience on account of your love of the truth, you should not grieve on account of them, for ahead there lie in store for you such things against which every blessing of the world is insignificant. When the angels say the same words at the time of death, they mean this: There is no cause of fear for you in the destination you are heading for, for Paradise awaits you there, and you have no cause of grief for those whom you are leaving behind in the world, for we are your guardians and companions here. When the angels will say these very words in the intermediary state between death and Resurrection and in the Plain of Resurrection, they will mean: Here, there is nothing but peace for you. Do not grieve for the hardships you had to suffer in the world, and do not fear what you are going to face in the Hereafter, for we are giving you the good news of Paradise, which used to be promised to you in the world.

Ibn-Kathir

30. Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is Allah,” and then they stand firm, on them the angels will descend (saying): “Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!” 31. “We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your souls desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask.” 32. “An entertainment from the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

(Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is Allah,” and then they stand firm,) means, they do good deeds sincerely for the sake of Allah, and they obey Allah, doing what Allah has prescribed for them. Ibn Jarir recorded that Sa`id bin `Imran said, “I read this Ayah to Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him:

(Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is Allah,” and then they stand firm,) He said, `Those are the ones who do not associate anything with Allah.”’ Then he reported a narration of Al-Aswad bin Hilal, who said, “Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said, `What do you say about this Ayah:

(Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is Allah,” and then they stand firm,)’ They said:

(“Our Lord is Allah,” and then they stand firm,) `They shun sin.’ He said, `You have not interpreted it improperly.’ They say: `Our Lord is Allah, then they stand firm and do not turn to any other god besides Him. ”’ This was also the view of Mujahid, `Ikrimah, As-Suddi and others. Ahmad recorded that Sufyan bin `Abdullah Ath-Thaqafi said, “I said, `O Messenger of Allah, tell me something that I can adhere to.’ He said:

(Say, my Lord is Allah, then stand firm.) I said, `O Messenger of Allah, what do you fear most for me’ The Messenger of Allah took hold of the edge of his tongue and said,

(This is.)” This was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah; At-Tirmidhi said, “Hasan Sahih.” Muslim also recorded it in his Sahih, and An-Nasa’i recorded that Sufyan bin `Abdullah Ath-Thaqafi said, “I said, `O Messenger of Allah, tell me something about Islam that I will not have to ask anyone about it after you.’ He said:

(Say: I believe in Allah, then stand firm.)” — then he mentioned the rest of the Hadith.

(on them the angels will descend). Mujahid, As-Suddi, Zayd bin Aslam and his ﴿Zayd’s﴾ son said, “This means, at the time of death, and they will say,

(Fear not). ” Mujahid, `Ikrimah and Zayd bin Aslam said, “This means not to fear “that which you will face in the Hereafter.”

(nor grieve!) `for what you have left behind of worldly things, children, family, wealth and debt, for we will take care of it for you.’

(But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!) So they give glad tidings of the end of bad things and the arrival of good things. This is like what is said in the Hadith narrated by Al-Bara’, may Allah be pleased with him:

(The angels say to the soul of the believer, “Come out, O good soul from the good body in which you used to dwell, come out to rest, and provision and a Lord Who is not angry.”) It was said that the angels will come down to them on the Day when they are brought out of their graves. Zayd bin Aslam said, “They will give him glad tidings when he dies, in his grave, and when he is resurrected.” This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim, and this view reconciles all the opinions; it is a good view and it is true.

(We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. ) means, the angels will say to the believers when death approaches: “We have been your friends, i.e., your close companions, in this world, protecting you and helping you by the command of Allah, and we will be with you in the Hereafter, keeping you from feeling lonely in your graves and when the Trumpet is blown; we will reassure you on the Day of Resurrection and will take you across the Sirat and bring you to the Gardens of delight.”

(Therein you shall have (all) that your souls desire,) means, `in Paradise you will have all that you wish for and that will delight you.’

(and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask.) means, `whatever you ask for, it will appear before you as you wish it to be.’

(An entertainment from the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) means, `a welcoming gift and a blessing from the One Who has forgiven your sins and Who is Merciful and Kind towards you, Who has forgiven you, concealed your faults and been Kind and Merciful.’