سورة غافر

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): الَّذِینَ یَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ [Those who bear the Throne and those around it]; what is meant by it is the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), Amir al-Mu'minin, Imam Hasan, Imam Husayn, Prophet Nuh, Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Musa and Prophet Isa (peace be upon them). [That is, these noble personalities are around the Throne of the Lord].

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): The Catholicos asked Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him): "Tell me, does Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, bear the Throne, or does the Throne bear Him?" He said: "Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, is the bearer of the Throne, the heavens and the earth and whatever is in them and whatever is between them ... the verse الَّذِینَ یَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ [Those who bear the Throne] refers to the scholars to whom Allah has given His knowledge."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): الَّذِینَ یَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ [Those who bear the Throne] — the meaning is the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and the successors after him, who are the bearers of the knowledge of Allah.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): The bearers of the Throne are eight angels from among the angels, each of whom has eight eyes, and every eye is the size of the whole world.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): Jabir said: The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: "I have been permitted to speak of one angel from among the bearers of the Throne, between whose earlobe and shoulder is a distance of seven hundred years' travel."

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): From the bearers of the Throne down to the sole of the foot is a distance of five hundred years' travel.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): In Tafsir al-Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him) it is reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: "When Allah created the Throne, He created for it three hundred and sixty thousand pillars, and at every pillar He created three hundred and sixty thousand angels. Were Allah to command the smallest of them to swallow the seven heavens and the seven earths between its two jaws, it would be like a grain of sand in a vast desert. And Allah said to them: 'O My servants, lift up this Throne of Mine.' They joined hands upon it, but were unable to lift it or even to move it. So Allah created with each one of them another, and they were unable to shake it from its place. Then Allah created with each of them ten more, and they were unable to move it. Then Allah created for the number of each of them the like of the whole company, and still they could not move it. So Allah the Mighty and Majestic said to all of them: 'Leave it to Me, that I may hold it by My own power.' And Allah the Mighty and Majestic held it by His power. Then He said to eight of them: 'You lift it,' They said: 'O our Lord, all of us together were unable to lift it — how can we eight bear it now?' Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: 'Because I am Allah, who brings the far near, humbles the servants, lightens the heavy, and makes the difficult easy. I do what I will and decree what I intend. I shall teach you some words; say them and it will become light upon you.' They said: 'What are they, O our Lord?' He said: 'Say: بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِیمِ [In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful], and there is no power and no strength except by Allah, the Most High, the Great, and may Allah send blessings upon Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and his pure household (peace be upon them).' They said it, and lifted the Throne, and it became as light upon their shoulders as a single hair growing on the shoulder of a strong, sturdy man. And Allah the Mighty and Majestic said to the rest of those angels: 'Leave My Throne to these eight to bear it, and you circle around it and glorify Me, magnify Me and sanctify Me, for indeed I am Allah, the One who is powerful over what you have seen, and over every thing All-Powerful.'"

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): One of the bearers of the Throne, named "Israfil," carries one corner of the Throne on his shoulder, and his two feet are in the seventh earth, and his head is in the seventh heaven. This is one example of the creatures of your Lord, the Blessed and Exalted.

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): Imam Rida (peace be upon him) said: "The Throne is not Allah. The Throne is the name of knowledge and power, and in the Throne everything exists. He has also attributed its bearing to others than Himself, who are a group of His creatures — because He has made His creatures worship Him through bearing His Throne. They are the bearers of His knowledge, and there are creatures around His Throne who glorify Him and act according to His knowledge, and there are also angels who record the deeds of His servants. Likewise, He established the worship and servitude of the people of the earth through circumambulation around His House, and Allah, as He Himself said, is established upon the Throne. (Ta-Ha/5)." Allah bears and preserves the Throne, its bearers, and all those who are around it. He is the Sustainer and Manager of all souls. He is above and higher than everything. The attribute "borne" or "lower" and "beneath" is not used on its own without being attributed to something, because in that case the wording and the meaning would both be ruined."

Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him): As for his question about what Allah created the Throne from: indeed Allah created it fourfold, and before it He had created only three things — the air, the Pen, and the light. Then He created it from various coloured lights out of that light: a green light, from which greenness came; a yellow light, from which yellowness came; a red light, from which redness came; and a white light, which is the Light of Lights, and from it comes the brightness of the day. Then He made it into seventy thousand layers, the thickness of each layer being like [the distance] from the beginning of the Throne down to the lowest of the low. There is no layer among them that does not glorify its Lord with praise and sanctify Him with different voices and distinct tongues. If permission were given to a single tongue to make what is beneath it hear anything, the mountains, cities and fortresses would collapse, the seas would be laid bare, and whatever is beneath it would perish. It has eight pillars, each pillar of which is borne by angels whose number none knows but Allah, who glorify [Him] night and day and do not slacken. If any perceptive being were to perceive anything that is above it, it could not endure it for the blink of an eye. Between it and perception are the veils of jabarut (dominion), kibriya (grandeur), 'azamah (majesty), quds (holiness), rahmah (mercy) and 'ilm (knowledge) [in a variant reading: the Pen]. Beyond that there is no room for discourse. Truly, the one who covets it has coveted something unattainable.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Concerning the appearance of the Qa'im (may Allah hasten his noble relief) and the sending of the army to Mecca, he said: "Were it not for the mercy of your Lord which has encompassed all things — and I am that mercy — I myself would return to them along with you."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Jabir ibn Yazid said: I asked Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) about the verse: الَّذِینَ یَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ یُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَ یُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَ یَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِینَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنا وَسِعْتَ کُلَّ شَیْءٍ رَحْمَةً وَ عِلْماً فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِینَ تابُوا وَ اتَّبَعُوا سَبِیلَکَ وَ قِهِمْ عَذابَ الْجَحِیمِ * رَبَّنا وَ أَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِی وَعَدْتَهُمْ وَ مَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبائِهِمْ وَ أَزْواجِهِمْ وَ ذُرِّیَّاتِهِمْ إِنَّکَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِیزُ الْحَکِیمُ * وَ قِهِمُ السَّیِّئاتِ وَ مَنْ تَقِ السَّیِّئاتِ یَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمْتَهُ وَ ذَلِکَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِیمُ * إِنَّ الَّذِینَ کَفَرُوا یُنادَوْنَ لَمَقْتُ اللَّهِ أَکْبَرُ مِنْ مَقْتِکُمْ أَنْفُسَکُمْ إِذْ تُدْعَوْنَ إِلَی الْإِیمانِ فَتَکْفُرُونَ [Those who bear the Throne, and those around it, celebrate the praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who believe: Our Lord! You embrace all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have turned in repentance and followed Your way, and protect them from the punishment of the Blaze...]. He said: "What is meant by the bearers of the Throne and those around it are the angels. What is meant by those who repent are those who have repented of accepting the wilaya of the three tyrants and the Banu Umayya. What is meant by the way of Allah is the wilaya of Ali (peace be upon him), for his way was the way of Allah. The sayyi'at (evil deeds) are the three tyrants themselves; according to the verse, whoever keeps away from them, Allah will encompass with His mercy. What is meant by those who disbelieved is the Banu Umayya, and what is meant by faith is the wilaya of Ali (peace be upon him)."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): الَّذِینَ یَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ [Those who bear the Throne] — what is meant is the noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and the successors after him, who are the bearers of Allah's knowledge. Then He says: وَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ [and those around it] — that is, the angels. یُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَ یُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَ یَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِینَ آمَنُوا [they glorify their Lord with praise and believe in Him and seek forgiveness for those who have believed] — they glorify Allah and seek forgiveness for those who have believed, and they are the Shia of the family of Muhammad. رَبَّنا وَسِعْتَ کُلَّ شَیْءٍ رَحْمَةً وَ عِلْماً فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِینَ تابُوا [Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented] — they say: Our Lord, You who know all things and whose mercy has embraced everywhere, forgive those who have turned back from the wilaya of the Banu Umayya. وَ اتَّبَعُوا سَبِیلَکَ [and followed Your way] — and have become followers of the way of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him). وَ قِهِمْ عَذابَ الْجَحِیمِ [and protect them from the punishment of the Blaze].

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): What is meant by لِلَّذِینَ تابُوا [those who repented] in the above verse are those who repented from accepting the wilaya of the group and the Banu Umayya; and وَ اتَّبَعُوا سَبِیلَکَ [and followed Your way] — what is meant by following the way of Allah is believing in the wilaya of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), and his way is the very way of Allah.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abu Basir said: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "O Aba Muhammad! Indeed Allah the Mighty and Majestic has angels who lift the burden of sins from the shoulders of our Shia and cast them down, just as the wind casts down the leaves in the season of leaf-fall. This is the word of the Lord, who says: الَّذِینَ یَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ یُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَ یُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَ یَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِینَ آمَنُوا [Those who bear the Throne and those around it glorify their Lord with praise and believe in Him and seek forgiveness for those who have believed]. By Allah! Their seeking forgiveness is for you, not for these people!"

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): The angels sent blessings upon me and upon Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) for seven years, while no man at that time had believed in me. This is the word of Allah: الَّذِینَ یَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ یُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَ یُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ [Those who bear the Throne and those around it glorify their Lord with praise and believe in Him] وَ یَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِمَنْ فِی الْأَرْضِ [and seek forgiveness for those on the earth] (Shura/5).

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)- Imam Rida (peace be upon him) narrated from his forefathers from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) who said: Allah has not created any creation better than me, and there is none more honoured before Him than me. Ali (peace be upon him) said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), are you superior or Jibrail?" He said: "O Ali (peace be upon him), Allah has given the messenger prophets (peace be upon them) superiority over the archangels who are brought near, and He has given me superiority over all the messenger prophets (peace be upon them), and the excellence after me belongs to you. The angels are the servants of us and the servants of those who love us. O Ali (peace be upon him), those الَّذِینَ یَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ یُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ [who bear the Throne and those around it glorify with the praise of their Lord] and seek forgiveness for those who have believed in our wilayah."

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): It is narrated from Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) that he said: "My virtue was sent down upon the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) from the heaven, and it is this verse: الَّذِینَ یَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ یُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَ یُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَ یَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِینَ آمَنُوا [Those who bear the Throne and those around it glorify the praise of their Lord and believe in Him and seek forgiveness for those who believe]. At that time no one on the face of the earth had faith except the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and me."

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): The angels for a period of seven years sought forgiveness only for the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and me, and these verses were revealed concerning us: الَّذِینَ یَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ یُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ [Those who bear the Throne and those around it glorify the praise of their Lord] up to رَبَّنا وَ أَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِی وَعَدْتَهُمْ وَ مَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبائِهِمْ وَ أَزْواجِهِمْ وَ ذُرِّیَّاتِهِمْ إِنَّکَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِیزُ الْحَکِیمُ [Our Lord, and admit them to the Gardens of Eden which You have promised them, and whoever was righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring. Indeed, You are the Mighty, the Wise].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Ali ibn al-Husayn narrated in sequence from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): ... I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): "May I be made your ransom, when those three (the Prophet, Ali (peace be upon him) and Jibra'il) sat together, what were their words?" He said: "The remembrance of Allah the Exalted — but they could not attain to His majesty — then they spoke of the virtue of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and to what extent Allah had granted him of His knowledge and to what degree He had entrusted His messengership to him; then they spoke about our Shia and prayed for them, and the conclusion of their gathering was the praise and glorification of Allah." I said: "May I be made your ransom, O Aba Abdillah (peace be upon him), do the angels know us?" He said: "Subhan Allah, how could they not know you when they have been appointed to pray for you, and they encircle the Throne of Allah and glorify with the praise of their Lord (Zumar/75) وَ یَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِینَ آمَنُوا مَا اسْتِغْفَارُهُمْ [and they seek forgiveness for those who believe — their seeking of forgiveness]. In this world they are exclusively for you."

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Ali (peace be upon him) said concerning the above verse: "The angels of the heaven for a period of several years and several months sought forgiveness only for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and me, and concerning the two of us this verse was revealed: الَّذِینَ یَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ یُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَ یُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَ یَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِینَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنا وَسِعْتَ کُلَّ شَیْءٍ رَحْمَةً وَ عِلْماً فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِینَ تابُوا وَ اتَّبَعُوا سَبِیلَکَ وَ قِهِمْ عَذابَ الْجَحِیمِ. رَبَّنا وَ أَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِی وَعَدْتَهُمْ وَ مَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبائِهِمْ وَ أَزْواجِهِمْ وَ ذُرِّیَّاتِهِمْ إِنَّکَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِیزُ الْحَکِیمُ [Those who bear the Throne and those around it glorify the praise of their Lord and believe in Him and seek forgiveness for those who believe: Our Lord, You embrace all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who repent and follow Your way, and protect them from the punishment of the Hellfire. Our Lord, and admit them to the Gardens of Eden which You have promised them, and whoever was righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring. Indeed, You are the Mighty, the Wise]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): In answer to the question, "Are the angels more numerous, or the descendants of Adam?" he said: "Know that by the One in whose hand is my soul, the angels in the heavens are more numerous than the amount of dust on the earth. In the sky there is no space of a footstep except that there is an angel there glorifying and sanctifying, and on the earth there is no tree or clod of earth except that an angel is appointed over it, and Allah brings its deed every day, and Allah is more knowledgeable of it. There is not one of them but every day seeks nearness to Allah through the wilayah of my Household, and asks forgiveness for those who love us, and curses our enemies, and asks Allah for their punishment." And the verse وَ قِهِمْ عَذابَ الْجَحِیمِ [and save them from the punishment of the hell] up to الْحَکِیمُ [the Wise] includes those who have accepted the wilayah of Imam Ali (peace be upon him). This matter — that is, accepting the wilayah of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) — is their very rectitude and salvation.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Indeed Allah the Mighty and Majestic has given the repentant three qualities such that if He gave one of them to all the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, they would be saved by it. Know: إِنَّ اللهَ یُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِینَ وَ یُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِینَ [Indeed Allah loves those who repent, and He loves the pure] (Baqarah/222). Whoever Allah loves, He will never punish him. And also His saying: الَّذِینَ یَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ یُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ، وَ یَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِینَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنا وَسِعْتَ کُلَّ شَیْءٍ رَحْمَةً وَ عِلْماً فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِینَ تابُوا وَ اتَّبَعُوا سَبِیلَکَ وَ قِهِمْ عَذابَ الجَحِیمِ* رَبَّنا وَ أَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِی وَعَدْتَهُمْ وَ مَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبائِهِمْ وَ أَزْواجِهِمْ وَ ذُرِّیَّاتِهِمْ إِنَّکَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِیزُ الحَکِیم [Those who bear the Throne and those around it glorify the praise of their Lord, and ask forgiveness for those who believe: Our Lord! You embrace all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way, and save them from the punishment of hell. Our Lord! And admit them into the Gardens of Eden which You have promised them, and whoever is righteous from among their fathers, their spouses and their descendants; indeed You are the Mighty, the Wise].

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): If you wish to pray over the body of a believer, pray for his forgiveness and pardon; rather, weep and beseech, that Allah may forgive him. And if you wish to pray over the body of one who is held back in recognising the [true] school of thought, or is deficient and unable to discern the school of truth, then say takbir and say: "O Allah, forgive those believers who have turned back from the way of error and have followed Your path, and guard them from the punishment of the Fire."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): By a sahih chain from Zurarah it is narrated that Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) said: The prayer over the mustad'af (weak one) and over one whose school of thought is not known is [to send] salawat upon the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and his family (peace be upon them), and to pray for the believing men and believing women, and after that one says — in the prayer over the mustad'af, or over both — : "O Allah, forgive those who have repented from the false school and from evils and have followed Your way," which is the true school and righteous deeds, "and guard them from the punishment of Hell."