Surah Al-Haqqah 69:17
سُورَةُ الحَاقَّةِ · Meccan · Verse 17 of 52
وَٱلْمَلَكُ عَلَىٰٓ أَرْجَآئِهَا ۚ وَيَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ ثَمَٰنِيَةٌۭ
Translation
The angels will be on all sides of it and, on that Day, eight of them will bear the throne of your Lord above them.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse plunges us into the awe-inspiring scenes of the Day of Judgment, painting a vivid picture of the heavens transformed. Allah is speaking, describing a momentous day for all of humanity, a day of reckoning and immense cosmic shifts.
The Sky Transformed
The verse begins, وَٱلْمَلَكُ عَلَىٰٓ أَرْجَآئِهَا (wal-Malaku ‘ala arjā’ihā), meaning "And the angels will be on its edges." The word ٱلْمَلَكُ (al-Malak) is singular, yet scholars like al-Zamakhshari and Ibn Ashur explain that it refers to the entire *genus* of angels, encompassing all of them. This use of a singular noun to denote a vast multitude emphasizes the sheer, overwhelming presence of angels on that Day, gathering at the fractured edges of the once-firm sky. Imagine the vastness of the heavens splitting apart, and legions of angels standing at its new frontiers. The word أَرْجَآئِهَا (arjā’ihā), meaning "its edges" or "its sides," vividly portrays the sky's disintegration, with the angels positioning themselves around its broken perimeter.
The Majestic Throne
Following this, the verse states, وَيَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ (wa yaḥmilu ‘arsha Rabbika fawqahum), "And the Throne of your Lord will be carried above them." The term رَبِّكَ (Rabbika), "your Lord," uses the address for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), adding a special reverence and honor to the mention of the Throne, as Ibn Ashur notes. This عَرْشَ (Arsh) is Allah's immense Throne, described by Ibn Ashur as that which encompasses all the heavens. It is a symbol of His ultimate authority and majesty.
The phrase فَوْقَهُمْ (fawqahum), "above them," refers to the angels mentioned earlier, those gathered on the sky's edges. This emphasizes the supreme position of the Throne, being carried high above all other celestial beings, reinforcing its grandeur. Scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur are careful to clarify that while the Throne is carried, Allah Himself is transcendent and does not sit upon it or need it. The carrying of the Throne is an expression of His magnificent power and dominion, not a sign of His need for a physical seat.
Eight Mighty Bearers
Finally, the verse concludes with يَوْمَئِذٍۢ ثَمَٰنِيَةٌۭ (yawma’idhin thamāniyah), "on that Day, eight will carry it." The number ثَمَٰنِيَةٌۭ (thamāniyah), "eight," specifically refers to the number of angels who will bear the Throne on the Day of Judgment. While some scholars, such as al-Razi, interpret this as eight *individual* powerful angels, citing a prophetic narration that they are currently four but will be augmented to eight, others consider it possibly eight ranks or groups. Regardless of whether it's eight individuals or eight vast companies, the implication is profound: it speaks to the immense scale and weight of the Throne, and the extraordinary power of these designated angels, who, by Allah's command, are able to carry such an immense creation. This detail underscores the sheer might of Allah and the magnificent order He establishes, even amidst the cosmic unraveling of the Last Day.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Haqqah 69:17 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
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