Tafsir of Al-Ahzab 33:43

Al-Ahzab (33): 43

هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۚ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا

He it is Who sends His Salat upon you, and His angels too, that He may bring you forth from darkness into light. And He is ever, to the believers, Most Merciful.

Translation and Exegesis:

• "He it is Who sends His Salat upon you..."
  • This means that Allah sends His Salat (blessings/mercy) upon you, while you (the believers) do not mention Him (or do not offer Him the due remembrance). The mention of His Salat serves as an incitement for the believers to remember and glorify Him.

• "...that He may bring you forth from darkness into light."
  • This means He guides you by His Mercy.

• Regarding the meaning of Salat:
  • Salat from Allah means Mercy.
  • Salat from the angels means Supplication for Forgiveness (Istighfar).
  • It has been stated that a word with multiple meanings (a polysemous word) may be used to signify both meanings simultaneously.
  • Furthermore, combining the literal meaning (Haqiqah) and the figurative meaning (Majaz) in one word is permissible. This view is attributed to Imam Al-Shafi'i (may Allah be pleased with him).
  • This interpretation is not far-fetched. If we seek to bring the two meanings closer, we can say that Mercy and Supplication for Forgiveness share a common element: concern for the state of the one being shown mercy or the one for whom forgiveness is sought. The intended meaning is this shared core concept. Therefore, the indication is one of inclusion (tadammun), as this shared concern is a component of both Mercy and Istighfar.

• "...And He is ever, to the believers, Most Merciful."
  • This is glad tidings for all believers and an indication that the preceding statement, "He sends His Salat upon you," is not restricted only to those who heard the revelation at the time it was sent down.

{تَحِيَّتُهُمْ يَوْمَ يَلْقَوْنَهُ سَلَامٌ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَرِيمًا}

"Their greeting on the Day they meet Him will be 'Peace,' and He has prepared for them a noble reward."