Surah Al-Mu’min, Footnote No. 6

This was said to console the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him). At that time they were deeply disheartened, seeing the abusive taunts and high-handedness of the disbelievers of Makkah and their own helplessness in the face of it. In response, it was said: why do you grieve over the words of these base and contemptible people, when your standing is such that even the angels who bear the Divine Throne, and those who attend around it, are your supporters, interceding on your behalf before Allah? The mention of the bearers of the Throne and those around it, rather than angels in general, is meant to convey the idea that not only the ordinary functionaries of God’s dominion, but even those angels closest to Him — the pillars of that dominion, who hold a position of nearness to the Ruler of the universe — hold deep concern and sympathy for you. Further, the statement that these angels believe in Allah and seek forgiveness for the believers shows that the bond of faith is the very bond that unites the dwellers of the Throne with the dwellers of the earth, and it is because of this connection that the angels near the Throne have come to take interest in those earthly, dust-born humans who, like themselves, believe in Allah. The angels’ “belief in Allah” does not mean that they were capable of disbelief but chose belief instead; rather, it means that they acknowledge the sole sovereignty of Allah alone, with no other being to whom they owe obedience or before whom they bow in submission. When believing humans adopted this very same conviction, then despite the vast difference in nature and the vast distance in station, a strong bond of shared faith was established between them and the angels.

Surah Al-Mu’min, Footnote No. 7

That is: the weaknesses, slips, and faults of Your servants are not hidden from You — indeed, You know everything — but just as Your knowledge is vast, so too is Your mercy vast; therefore, despite knowing their faults, forgive these poor creatures. Another possible meaning is: out of mercy, forgive those whom, out of knowledge, You know to have repented sincerely and to have truly taken to Your path.

Surah Al-Mu’min, Footnote No. 8

Although forgiving and saving from the punishment of Hell are so clearly interconnected that, once one is mentioned, there would seem to be no need to state the other, this manner of expression actually reveals the depth of the angels’ concern for the believers. It is a natural rule that when someone whose heart is deeply invested in a matter gets the chance to petition someone in authority, he presents the same request repeatedly, in various forms, with earnest insistence — mentioning it just once does not satisfy him.

Surah Al-Mu’min, Footnote No. 9

That is, they have abandoned disobedience, desisted from rebellion, and taken up obedience, walking upon that path of life which You Yourself have shown.

Surah Al-Mu’min, Footnote No. 10

Here too we find the same quality of earnest insistence referred to above in Footnote 8. It is obvious that forgiveness and salvation from Hell automatically imply admission into Paradise, and further, since Allah Himself has already promised this Paradise to the believers, praying for it on their behalf might seem, on the face of it, unnecessary. But the angels’ feeling of goodwill toward the believers is so intense that they keep offering good words on their behalf, even though they know that Allah is Himself going to bestow all these kindnesses upon them.

Surah Al-Mu’min, Footnote No. 11

That is, gather their parents, spouses, and children together with them as well, so as to bring coolness to their eyes. This is the same point Allah Himself has stated elsewhere regarding the blessings that will be given to the believers in Paradise — see Surah Ar-Ra’d, verse 23, and Surah At-Tur, verse 21. The verse in Surah At-Tur further specifies that if a person deserves a higher rank in Paradise while his parents and children do not deserve that same rank, Allah will not bring him down to join them, but will instead raise them up to join him at his rank.

Surah Al-Mu’min, Footnote No. 12

The word “sayyi’at” (evils) is used in three different senses, and all three are meant here. First, false beliefs, corrupted character, and evil deeds. Second, misguidance and the evil consequences of bad deeds. Third, afflictions, calamities, and torments — whether of this world, of the intermediate realm (barzakh), or of the Day of Resurrection. The purpose of the angels’ prayer is that the believers be protected from everything that would be harmful to them.

Surah Al-Mu’min, Footnote No. 13

The “evils of the Day of Resurrection” refer to the terror of the field of Gathering, deprivation of shade and every kind of comfort, the severity of the reckoning, the disgrace of having the secrets of one’s life exposed before all creation, and all the other humiliations and hardships that the guilty will face there.