Al-Furqaan (The Criterion)

2. “On the day when they shall see the angels, there shall be no glad tidings that day for the guilty, and they (the angels) shall say: ‘It (Paradise) is a forbidden (thing), totally prohibited’.”

In the previous verse the arrogant that had no hope of resurrection and expected to see angels were mentioned, and the concerned verse wants to say that the angels will come to them but instead of conveying the light of revelation, they declare the severest threats to them. That day, as Imam Baqir (as) says, is the day of their death and Allah orders the Angel of death to take their life and when their soul is going to leave their body, some angels hit their back and face. Then Imam Baqir (as) recited this verse.¹

The verse says:

“On the day when they shall see the angels...”

Therefore, in this noble verse the Qur’an implies as a threat that they want to see the angels and finally they will see them, but as the verse says:

“...there shall be no glad tidings that day for the guilty...”

Yes, on that day they do not get happy, but since they see the signs of punishment along with them, they fear so much that they will utter the same sentence that they used to say at the time of danger in this world:

“Grant grace to us and exempt us!”2

Certainly neither this sentence nor other sentences will have any effect on their doomed fate, for the fire they have started by themselves will burn them, and the evil deeds which they have done will be materialized then before them, The consequences of their misdeeds eventually come home to roost.

The verse continues saying:

“...and they (the angels) shall say: ‘It (Paradise) is a forbidden (thing), totally prohibited’.”

The Arabic word /hijr/ originally means an area that is furnished with stones and it becomes forbidden to enter. If we see that ‘Hijr-i-Isma‘il’ is called /hijr/ it is because it prevents man from some evil actions, thus we read in verse 5 of Surah Al-Fajr, No. 89:

“Is there (not) in this an oath for those who have sense?”

Also the companions of Hijr whose name is mentioned in Qur’an² , has been used for the name of the people of Salih (as) who used to make fortified stone houses for themselves in mountains and were protected by these houses.

But the Qur’anic phrase /hijran mahjūra/ (A forbidding ban) is an expression that was used by Arabs when they met a person whom they feared. They used to say it for protecting themselves.

Specially it was Arab’s tradition that in the sacred months that war was forbidden when they confronted someone and this tradition might get unobserved they repeated this phrase in order to be protected. By hearing this phrase that person protected them and made them calm. Thus the meaning of this holy phrase is that:

“I seek protection, which is stable and unchanging.”

Meanwhile, it is understood from the above words that the persons who said these words are criminal. The proportion of existing verbs in the verse, the course of history, and the background of this phrase among Arabs demand this, though some say that it is possible that the speaker of these words will be the angels and their aim is to prevent polytheists from Allah’s mercy.

Some have also said that these words are said by criminals to each other, but apparently the first meaning is correct, for many commentators have accepted it or have mentioned it as the first commentary.³

But what day do wrongdoers meet angels?

Some of the commentators say that it is at the time of death that man sees the angel of death, as Surah An-Nisa’, No. 4, verse 97 says:

“Verily (as for) those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to their own selves...”

Some other commentators say that its purpose is the day of Resurrection when wrongdoers encounter the Divine angels of punishment and observe them.

The second commentary seems more appropriate with regard to the next verses that talk about resurrection and especially with the word /yauma’iǒin/ that refers to it.