Surah Maryam (Mary) 19 : 64

وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ إِلَّا بِأَمْرِ رَبِّكَ ۖ لَهُۥ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا وَمَا خَلْفَنَا وَمَا بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا

Translations

 
 Muhsin Khan
 Pickthall
 Yusuf Ali
Quran Project
[Gabriel said], "And we [angels] descend not except by the order of your Lord. To Him belongs that before us and that behind us and what is in between. And never is your Lord forgetful -

1. Lessons/Guidance/Reflections/Gems

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Explanatory Note

This passage of the sūrah ends with a declaration of God’s total Lordship of the universe. Hence, people are directed to worship Him alone and to bear with patience the hard tasks involved. Furthermore, the possibility of anyone having something in common with God is absolutely negated.

Reports are unanimous that the angel Gabriel was ordered to say the first statement to the Prophet: “We descend only by the command of your Lord.” (Verse 64) This was in reply to the Prophet when he felt that revelation was slow in coming. In fact Gabriel had not come to see him for some time, and he experienced a feeling of loneliness, keenly missing the angel whom he loved. Gabriel was then ordered by God to tell him: “We descend only by the command of your Lord.” He conducts all our affairs: “To Him belongs all that is before us and all that is hidden from us and all that is in between.” (Verse 64) He forgets nothing. Revelations are bestowed when He in His wisdom wills that they be bestowed.

2. Linguistic Analysis

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Frequency of Root words in this Ayat used in this Surah *


3. Surah Overview

4. Miscellaneous Information

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5. Connected/Related Ayat

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6. Frequency of the word

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7. Period of Revelation

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It was revealed before the first migration to Abyssinia. We learn from an authentic hadith that Ja’afar (a companion of the Prophet) recited v. 1-40 of this Surah to the court of the Negus when the Muslims had been summoned.

8. Reasons for Revelation

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9. Relevant Hadith

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10. Wiki Forum

Comments in this section are statements made by general users – these are not necessarily explanations of the Ayah – rather a place to share personal thoughts and stories…

11. Tafsir Zone

 

Overview (Verses 64 - 65)

God’s Absolute Lordship
 
This passage of the sūrah ends with a declaration of God’s total Lordship of the universe. Hence, people are directed to worship Him alone and to bear with patience the hard tasks involved. Furthermore, the possibility of anyone having something in common with God is absolutely negated. We descend only by the command of your Lord. To Him belongs all that is before us and all that is hidden from us and all that is in between. Never does your Lord forget anything. He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. Worship Him alone, then, and remain steadfast in His worship. Do you know any whose name is worthy to be mentioned side by side with His? (Verses 64-65)
 
Reports are unanimous that the angel Gabriel was ordered to say the first statement to the Prophet: “We descend only by the command of your Lord.” (Verse 64) This was in reply to the Prophet when he felt that revelation was slow in coming. In fact Gabriel had not come to see him for some time, and he experienced a feeling of loneliness, keenly missing the angel whom he loved. Gabriel was then ordered by God to tell him: “We descend only by the command of your Lord.” He conducts all our affairs: “To Him belongs all that is before us and all that is hidden from us and all that is in between.” (Verse 64) He forgets nothing. Revelations are bestowed when He in His wisdom wills that they be bestowed.
 
The verse ends with the statement: “Never does your Lord forget anything.” (Verse 64) It is fitting that this comment should be followed with the injunction to worship God alone and remain steadfast, declaring at the same time His Lordship over all things: “He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them.” (Verse 65) No one else has any share in this Lordship.
 
“Worship Him alone, then, and remain steadfast in His worship.” (Verse 65) Worship Him and persevere in shouldering the responsibilities that such worship entails. These include the responsibility of attaining the high standard that allows one to present oneself before Him and of maintaining this high standard. Worship Him alone and mobilize all your abilities and potential for meeting Him and for learning from that sublime source. This is a hard task, requiring one to free oneself of all restrictions and responsibilities, activities and distractions. Yet this task is coupled with a pleasure that cannot be fully appreciated except by those who have experienced it. Yet the pleasure cannot be gained except by those who rise to the task and fulfil it with the determination it deserves. Dedication is the key word here, and without dedication, the pleasure will not be forthcoming, nor the results one hopes for.
 
“Worship Him alone, then, and remain steadfast in His worship,” remembering that worship in Islam does not denote merely the rituals of worship. It includes all activities, feelings, intentions and thoughts. It is hard to direct all these towards heaven and make their aim the winning of God’s pleasure. As it is hard, it requires perseverance. It requires that one directs every human activity on earth to pleasing God, ensuring that it remains free of all restrictions, temptations and desires.
 
Thus we see how Islam is truly a comprehensive system for life. When man implements this system, feeling that whatever he does, large or small, is meant as worship of God, he rises to the pure and enlightened level of worship. Such a system requires, for its proper fulfilment, perseverance and endurance at the time of suffering.
 
The command is given to us all that we must “worship Him alone.” He is the only One in the universe who deserves to be the recipient of our worship. The passage concludes with the rhetorical question: “Do you know any whose name is worthy to be mentioned side by side with His?” (Verse 65) This question also asks whether we know any equal to God. Supreme is He above all things!


12. External Links

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