Tafseer Ibn Kathir of ASH SHAAFFAAT [161]

161. So, verily you and those whom you worship 162. Cannot lead astray, 163. Except those who are predestined to burn in Hell! 164. And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place; 165. And verily, we (angels), we stand in rows; 166. And verily, we (angels) indeed are those who glorify. 167. And indeed they used to say: 168. ”If we had a reminder as had the men of old,'' 169. ”We would have indeed been the chosen servants of Allah!'' 170. But (now) they disbelieve therein, so they will come to know! Allah says, addressing the idolators:

(So, verily you and those whom you worship cannot lead astray, except those who are predestined to burn in Hell!) meaning, `the only ones who will believe what you say and follow your misguided ways of false worship are those who are more misguided than you and are created for Hell.'

(They have hearts wherewith they understand not, and they have eyes wherewith they see not, and they have ears wherewith they hear not (the truth). They are like cattle, nay even more astray; those! They are the heedless ones.) (7:179). This is the parable of the people who follow the belief and ideas of Shirk, disbelief and misguidance, as Allah says:

(Certainly, you have different ideas. Turned aside therefrom is he who is turned aside (by the decree of Allah).) (51:8-9) meaning, the one who is misled by it is the one who is turned aside.   Then Allah says, declaring the angels to be above the position attributed to them by those who disbelieved in them and told lies about them -- that they are the daughters of Allah --

(And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place;) meaning, each one has his own place in the heavens and in the places of worship, which he does not overstep. Ad-Dahhak said in his Tafsir:

”(And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place;) Masruq used to narrate that `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, `The Messenger of Allah said:

(There is no place in the lower heaven without an angel standing or prostrating in it.) This is what Allah says:

(And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place (or position)).'' It was reported that Ibn Mas`ud said, ”In the heavens there is one heaven in which there is no space a hand span wide but there is the forehead or the foot of an angel on it. '' Then he recited:

(And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place;) Sa`id bin Jubayr similarly said:

(And we (angels), we stand in rows.) means, we stand in rows to worship, as we have already seen in the Ayah

(By those ranged in ranks (or rows)) Abu Nadrah said, ”When the Iqamah had been given, `Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, would turn to face the people and say: `Make your rows straight, for Allah wants you to follow the ways of the angels.' Then he would say,

(And verily, we stand in rows;) `Move back, O so-and-so, move forward, O so-and-so.' Then he would go forward and say `Allahu Akbar''' This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir. In Sahih Muslim it is narrated that Hudhayfah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ”The Messenger of Allah said,

(We have been favored above mankind in three things: our rows have been made like the rows of the angels; the whole earth has been made a place of prayer for us; and its soil is a means of purification for us.)''

(And verily, we indeed are those who glorify.) means, `we stand in rows and glorify the Lord, praising Him, sanctifying Him and declaring Him to be above any faults or shortcomings. We are servants of Him and in need of Him, humbling ourselves before Him.'

(And indeed they used to say: ”If we had a reminder as had the men of old, we would have indeed been the chosen servants of Allah!'') means, `they used to wish -- before you, O Muhammad, came to them -- that they would have someone to remind them about Allah and what happened in earlier times, and to bring them the Book of Allah.' This is like the Ayat:

(And they swore by Allah their most binding oath that if a warner came to them, they would be more guided than any of the nations (before them); yet when a warner came to them, it increased in them naught but flight (from the truth).) (35:42), and

(Lest you should say: ”The Book was sent down only to two sects before us, and for our part, we were in fact unaware of what they studied.'' Or lest you should say: ”If only the Book had been sent down to us, we would surely have been better guided than they.'' So now has come unto you a clear proof from your Lord, and a form of guidance and a mercy. Who then does more wrong than one who rejects the Ayat of Allah and turns away therefrom We shall requite those who turn away from Our Ayat with an evil torment, because of their turning away.) (6:156-157) Allah says here:

(But they disbelieve therein, so they will come to know!) This is a definite and stern threat because of their disbelief in their Lord and their rejection of His Messenger .