Surah 53

Surah 53:27

"Surely those who do not believe in the Hereafter indeed name the angels with the names of females."
Refuting the Claim of the Idolators that the Angels are Allah's Daughters Verses 53:27-30
Show Full Scripture Context (53:27-30) — 4 Verses
Verse 27

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ تَسۡمِيَةَ ٱلۡأُنثَىٰ

Surely those who do not believe in the Hereafter indeed name the angels with the names of females.

Verse 28

وَمَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّۖ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّنَّ لَا يُغۡنِي مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ شَيۡـٔٗا

But they have no knowledge about it. They only follow conjecture, and surely conjecture is of no use at all against the truth.

Verse 29

فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَن مَّن تَوَلَّىٰ عَن ذِكۡرِنَا وَلَمۡ يُرِدۡ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا

So turn away from the one who turns away from Our reminder and desires nothing but this present life.

Verse 30

ذَٰلِكَ مَبۡلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهۡتَدَىٰ

That is the extent of their knowledge. Surely your Lord – He knows who goes astray from His way, and He knows who is (rightly) guided.

Allah the Exalted admonishes the idolators for calling the angels female names and claiming that they are Allah's daughters. Allah is far removed from what they ascribe to Him. Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah, {And they make females the angels, who themselves are servants of the Most Gracious. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned!} (43:19) Allah's statement here, {But they have no knowledge thereof.} meaning, they have no correct knowledge testifying to their statements. What they say is all lies, falsehood, fake and utter atheism, {They follow but conjecture, and verily, conjecture is no substitute for the truth.} meaning, conjecture is of no benefit and never takes the place of truth. In a Hadith recorded in the Sahih, the Messenger of Allah said, "Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the most lying speech."

The Necessity of turning away from the People of Misguidance

Allah's statement, {Therefore withdraw from him who turns away from Our Reminder} means, stay away from those who turn away from the Truth and shun them, {and desires nothing but the life of this world.} meaning, whose aim and knowledge are concentrated on this life; this is the goal of those who have no goodness in them, {That is what they could reach of knowledge.} meaning, seeking this life and striving hard in its affairs is the best knowledge they have acquired. There is also the reported supplication: "O Allah! Make not this life the greatest of our concerns nor the best knowledge that we can attain." Allah's statement, {Verily, your Lord is He, Who knows best him who goes astray from His path, and He knows best him who receives guidance.} meaning, He is the Creator of all creatures and He knows whatever benefits His servants. Allah is the One Who guides whom He wills and misguides whom He wills, and all of this indicates His power, knowledge and wisdom. Certainly, He is Just and never legislates or decrees unjustly.

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (325-326)

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.