[ابوالوليد المسلم]

The Clear Qur'anic Exegesis (10)

Muhammad Khayr Ramadan Yusuf

Surat Al Baqarah (30-32)

{ وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلاَئِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ } [البقرة: 30]

30- O Prophet Muhammad, know that your Lord said to the angels: I will make the children of Adam as successors on earth, generations after generations. I shall subject to them all the energies and raw materials that I have created for them.
The angels understood the human nature or it was done by the inspiration of Allah that some of those people will spread corruption on earth and use its powers in other than the right direction. So, they inquired about the wisdom behind that creation; not objecting to Allah's Command: (O Allah, Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood without right?) If the goal is that they worship You, here we are glorifying, praising, worshipping and praying for You? Thereupon, Allah said to them: I know the best interest for the earth in making them successors on earth. If there will be some corruptors, there also will be prophets and messengers, pious people, scholars, worshippers and martyrs who will be in the highest position in Paradise.


{ وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الأسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلاَئِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنْبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَؤُلاَءِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ } [البقرة: 31]

31- He taught Adam the names of all things, then he presented them to the angels and said: If you are really more worthy than Adam and his offspring to be successors on earth, tell me the names of these things. If you do not know the names of these things which are before your eyes, you would rather be ignorant about the other things about which you do not know.
The Angels do not need these things because these things do not fit their nature, but is solely for the children of Adam, therefore, succession was made for Adam on earth.



{ قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لاَ عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلاَّ مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ} [البقرة: 32]

32– Then those angels of Allah have surrendered to Him, glorified Him and said: Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. You know everything and You have all wisdom in Your Creation as well as Your Ordinances. You teach whomever You want and hold back whatever You want from whomever You want.