Transliteration:( Allazeena tatawaf faahu mul malaaa'ikatu zaalimeee anfusihim fa alqawus salama maa kunnaa na'malu min sooo'; balaaa innal laaha 'aleemum bimaa kuntum ta'maloon )
"Those whose lives are taken by the angels [55] while they were wronging [56] themselves, will then offer submission, saying, 'We were not doing any evil' [57]. Yes, indeed. Allah is All-Knowing of what you used to do [58]."
Several important points emerge from this verse. Firstly, although giving death is ultimately the work of Allah, the act is attributed to angels, showing that Allah’s actions can be executed through His special servants. Similarly, it is correct to say that the Holy Prophet ﷺ bestows honor, grants Paradise, etc., as a means and not independently.
Secondly, the angel of death (Hazrat Izraeel عليه السلام) is responsible for taking the soul, but he is accompanied by other subordinate angels. Hence, there is no contradiction between this verse and the verse:
"Say you, the angel of death causes you to die" (S32:V11).
Just as revelation is brought by Hazrat Jibraeel عليه السلام, but the Qur’an says:
"He sends down the angels with the spirit from His command" (S16:V2).
So, the plural form is used to indicate cooperation under leadership.
Thirdly, this verse underscores that the state of one’s death carries significance. A person who dies on faith is a believer, while one who dies on disbelief is a disbeliever, regardless of their earlier state.
This teaches us a powerful principle: final moments matter. If someone lives as a disbeliever but embraces faith at death, they are counted as a believer. On the other hand, someone who lived a life of faith but abandons belief at the time of death, is counted as a disbeliever. Therefore, many verses that describe the disbelievers' wrongs are understood in the context of their condition at death.
At the moment of death, these wrongdoers (disbelievers) will try to deny their guilt, saying, “We were not doing any evil.” This false denial may stem from intentional deceit or complete loss of memory and understanding due to the shock of the moment.
For example, the disbeliever questioned in the grave will say, “I do not know what my religion was,” while the believer will be able to recall and acknowledge his faith and deeds with clarity.
Their denial will be of no value before Allah, who is All-Knowing and fully aware of their actions. In His court, nothing can be concealed. Despite Allah’s perfect knowledge, the hands, feet, and other body parts of the wrongdoers will be made to testify against them—not because Allah needs the information, but to silence the guilty and to make their own limbs witnesses to their crimes.
This verse is a reminder of ultimate accountability, and that no lie or excuse will stand before the All-Knowing Judge.
28. Those whose lives the angels take while they are doing wrong to themselves. Then, they will (falsely) submit (saying): “We did not do any evil.” (The angels will reply): “Yes! Truly, Allah is Most Knowing of what you did.” 29. “So enter the gates of Hell, to abide therein, and indeed, what an evil abode there is for the arrogant.”
Allah informs us of the state of the idolators who are doing wrong to themselves when death approaches and the angels come to seize their evil souls.
(Then, they will (falsely) submit) meaning, they will make it appear as if they used to listen and obey by saying,
(We did not do any evil.) Similarly, on the Day of Resurrection, they will say,
(By Allah, our Lord, we were not idolators.) ﴿6:23﴾
(On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together; then they will swear to Him as they swear to you.) ﴿58:18﴾ Allah says, rejecting what they say,
(“Yes! Truly, Allah is Most Knowing of what you did. So enter the gates of Hell, to abide therein, and indeed, what an evil abode there is for the arrogant.”) (16:28-29), meaning, a miserable position in the abode of humiliation for those who were too arrogant to pay atten- tion to the signs of Allah and follow His Messengers. They will enter Hell from the day they die with their souls, and their bodies will feel the heat and hot winds of their graves. When the Day of Resurrec- tion comes, their souls will be reunited with their bodies, to abide forever in the fire of Hell, and
(It will not be complete enough to kill them nor shall its torment be lightened for them.) (35:36) As Allah says,
(The Fire, they are exposed to it morning and afternoon. And on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): “Cause Fir’awn’s people to enter the severest torment!”) (40:46).
(16:28) the same[24] unbelievers who, when the angels seize them and cause them to die while they are engaged in wrong-doing, they will proffer their submission[25] saying: “We were engaged in no evil.” (The angels will answer them): “Surely Allah knows well all that you did.
24. This is Allah’s addition to the previous assertion, and not its continuation. Those commentators, who have wrongly considered this as continuation of the preceding sentence, are unable to offer any satisfactory explanation for their opinion.
25. That is, when the angels take possession of their souls at the time of death.
[697]- i.e., having made punishment due to them for their numerous sins and crimes.
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