Surah 42:5

"The heavens are nearly torn apart from above, when the angels glorify their Lord with praise, and ask forgiveness for those on the earth. Is it not a fact that God – He is the Forgiving, the Compassionate?"

Islamic Commentaries (1)Manuscripts (50)

The Tafsir of Surat Ash-Shura Verses 42:1-6

Show Full Scripture Context (42:1-6) — 6 Verses

Verse 1

حمٓ

Ḥā Mīm.

Verse 2

عٓسٓقٓ

‘Ayn Sīn Qāf.

Verse 3

كَذَٰلِكَ يُوحِيٓ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ

In this way He inspires you, and those who were before you – God, the Mighty, the Wise.

Verse 4

لَهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيُّ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ

To Him (belongs) whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. He is the Most High, the Almighty.

Verse 5

تَكَادُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرۡنَ مِن فَوۡقِهِنَّۚ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّهِمۡ وَيَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَ لِمَن فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

The heavens are nearly torn apart from above, when the angels glorify their Lord with praise, and ask forgiveness for those on the earth. Is it not a fact that God – He is the Forgiving, the Compassionate?

Verse 6

وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوۡلِيَآءَ ٱللَّهُ حَفِيظٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيۡهِم بِوَكِيلٖ

Those who have taken allies other than Him – God is watcher over them. You are not a guardian over them.

It was also reported in the Two Sahihs, and the version quoted here is that recorded by Al-Bukhari.

Quoted Scripture

"To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth,"

means, everything is subject to His dominion and control.

Quoted Scripture

"and He is the Most High, the Most Great."

This is like the Ayat:

{the Most Great, the Most High}, and

Quoted Scripture

"[He is the Most High, the Most Great](quran/22/62)}."

And there are many similar Ayat.

Quoted Scripture

"Nearly the heavens might be rent asunder from above them,"

Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Ka'b Al-Ahbar said, "Out of fear of His might."

Quoted Scripture

"and the angels glorify the praises of their Lord, and ask for forgiveness for those on the earth."

This is like the Ayah:

Quoted Scripture

"[Those who bear the Throne and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord, and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for those who believe (saying): "Our Lord! You comprehend all](quran/40/7)"

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 8, Page 561-563)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.

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