Surah Al-Anbya 21:28

The Refutation of Those Who claim that the Angels are the Daughters of Allah; description of their Deeds and Status

Here Allah refutes those who claim that He has offspring among the angels -- exalted and sanctified be He. Some of the Arabs believed that the angels were the daughters of Allah, but Allah says:

(Glory to Him! They are but honored servants.) meaning, the angels are servants of Allah who are honored by Him and who hold high positions of noble status. They obey Him to the utmost in all their words and deeds.

(They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His command.) meaning, they do not initiate any matter before Him or go against His commands; on the contrary, they hasten to do as He commands, and He encompasses them with His knowledge so that nothing whatsoever is hidden from Him.

(He knows what is before them, and what is behind them,)

(and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased.) This is like the Ayat:

(Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission) 2:255

(Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits) 34:23. There are many Ayat which say similar things.

(And they for fear of Him) means, because they fear Him.

(And they stand in awe. And if any of them should say: "Verily, I am a god besides Him,") meaning, whoever claims to be a god instead of Allah, i.e., alongside Allah,

(such We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the wrongdoers.) meaning, everyone who says this. This is a conditional sentence, and the condition stated does not necessarily have to take place. This is like the Ayat:

(Say: "If the Most Gracious had a son, then I am the first of worshippers.") 43:81

(If you join others in worship with Allah, (then) surely, (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.) 39:65

Dalam ayat ini Allah menerangkan mengapa para malaikat itu demikian patuh dan taat kepada-Nya ialah karena para malaikat itu yakin bahwa Allah senantiasa mengetahui apa-apa yang telah ada dan sedang mereka kerjakan, sehingga tidak satu pun yang luput dari pengetahuan dan pengawasan-Nya. Oleh karena itu mereka senantiasa beribadah dan mematuhi segala perintah-Nya.

Selanjutnya, dalam ayat ini Allah menerangkan sifat lainnya dari para malaikat itu ialah mereka tidak akan memberikan syafaat kepada siapa pun, kecuali kepada orang-orang yang diridai Allah. Oleh sebab itu, janganlah seseorang mengharap akan memperoleh syafaat atau pertolongan dari malaikat pada hari akhirat kelak, bila ia tidak memperoleh rida Allah terlebih dahulu.

Di samping itu, para malaikat tersebut senantiasa berhati-hati, disebabkan takut pada murka Allah dan siksa-Nya. Oleh sebab itu, mereka senantiasa menjauhkan diri dari mendurhakai-Nya atau menyalahi perintah dan larangan-Nya.