Surah Fussilat 41:38
سُورَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ · Meccan · Verse 38 of 54
فَإِنِ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَٱلَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ يُسَبِّحُونَ لَهُۥ بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْـَٔمُونَ ۩
Translation
If the disbelievers are too arrogant, [remember, Prophet, that] those who are with your Lord glorify Him tirelessly night and day.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse opens with a powerful conditional statement, challenging the listener while affirming Allah's absolute majesty.
The Weight of Arrogance
The phrase "فَإِنِ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟" (If they are arrogant) directly follows an injunction in the previous verse to prostrate to Allah alone, rather than to the sun or moon. Here, the "if" sets up a stark contrast. Ibn Ashur highlights that the form "استكبروا" (istakbarū) uses the "س" (sīn) and "ت" (tā) prefixes for *mubalagha* (exaggeration or intensity), implying that these individuals don't just show pride, but act with an intense, entrenched arrogance. It’s as if they deeply *consider* themselves above submitting to Allah alone. Al-Razi explains this as a refusal to accept the Prophet Muhammad's teaching to abandon the worship of celestial bodies and instead prostrate only to Allah, the Creator. So, the arrogance isn't just a fleeting thought, but a deep-seated resistance to truth and submission.
Close to Allah
The response to such arrogance is "فَالَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ" (then those with your Lord). The immediately preceding "فَ" (fa) here connects the consequence: if some are arrogant, Allah is not lacking in worshippers. The commentators, like al-Jalalayn and al-Muyassar, clarify that "الذين عند ربك" refers to the angels. The phrase "عِندَ رَبِّكَ" (ʿinda rabbika), meaning "with your Lord," does not imply a physical location for Allah, as Al-Razi explains. Rather, as both al-Zamakhshari and Ibn Ashur point out, it conveys a profound sense of honor, high status, and closeness to Allah. These are not just any angels, but a specific, exalted group distinguished by their proximity and esteemed rank in Allah's presence.
Unceasing Devotion
These honored angels "يُسَبِّحُونَ لَهُۥ بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ" (glorify Him day and night). "التسبيح" (tasbīh) encompasses all forms of declaring Allah free from any imperfection, through words of praise and acts of obedience. Ibn Ashur notes that mentioning "night and day" (bi-l-layli wa-n-nahāri) signifies continuous, all-encompassing worship, covering every moment without pause. This continuity is further emphasized by the powerful concluding phrase "وَهُمْ لَا يَسْـَٔمُونَ" (and they do not tire or get bored). Ibn Ashur explains "السآمة" (sa'āmah) as weariness or boredom resulting from constant effort. The grammatical structure highlights this as a continuous state for the angels: despite ceaseless worship through all hours, they never feel fatigue or monotony. Al-Razi emphasizes that this perpetual, joyful devotion reflects the pure nature of these exalted angels, a state far beyond human limitations.
This verse therefore presents a profound contrast: human arrogance in refusing to worship Allah alone is met with the continuous, tireless, and joyful submission of the most honored beings in creation. It reminds us that Allah is utterly independent of our worship, yet graciously invites us to join the ranks of those who find no weariness in glorifying Him.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Qur'anic Worlds
This beautiful verse from Surah Fussilat presents a profound contrast, inviting us to reflect on our place in creation.
The Message to Humanity
The ayah begins with a direct address to those who might refuse Allah's call: "فَإِنِ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟" (If they are arrogant) about prostrating to Him. This refers to the polytheists, who despite all the signs, would not devote their worship to Allah alone, as explained by Ibn Kathir. The immediate situation is one of a divine statement asserting Allah's absolute sovereignty and independence from human obedience. Allah is not diminished by anyone's arrogance.
The World of Unseen Devotion
The verse then draws our attention to another world: "فَٱلَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ يُسَبِّحُونَ لَهُۥ بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْـَٔمُونَ ۩" (Then those who are with your Lord glorify Him by night and day, and they do not weary). Al-Baghawi and Ibn Kathir clarify that "those who are with your Lord" primarily refers to the angels. These noble beings, in their purest state, are continuously engaged in *tasbeeh* (glorification), declaring Allah free from all imperfection. Their devotion is ceaseless, "they do not weary," unlike humans who might tire or lose focus. Imam al-Razi elaborates that this refers to specific, exalted angels who are constantly engaged in this worship, showing that not all of creation is the same, yet all are subservient.
Sayyid Qutb expands on this, suggesting that "those with your Lord" could encompass other exalted and honored creatures, not just angels, about whom we know very little. This broadens our perspective on the vastness of Allah's obedient creation.
A Call to Universal Submission
This contrast serves as a powerful reminder. If humanity, especially the arrogant, refuses to worship, Allah is not in need. There are entire worlds, known and unknown, that constantly glorify Him without fail. This highlights the Makkan context of the revelation, where the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, faced stubborn rejection. The ayah consoles him and the early believers, showing that their Lord is independently glorified, regardless of human choices.
The deep meaning here is for us: to recognize that our submission to Allah is for our own benefit. It aligns us with a universal, unwavering reality of devotion. The prostration of recitation (*sajdat al-tilawah*) at the end of this verse, as discussed by Mufti Shafi, is a beautiful, tangible practice that grounds us in this very submission, mirroring the ceaseless glorification of the angels and uniting us with that unseen world of devotion.
Sources: al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Ibn Kathir, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Fussilat 41:38 is discussed in 2 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Fussilat 41:38 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.