Tafsir of Maryam 19:64

{And we descend not} This is a narration of the words of Gabriel (peace be upon him) when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) found his arrival delayed. It is reported that he was detained for forty days—or, as some say, fifteen days—when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about the story of the People of the Cave, Dhu al-Qarnayn, and the Spirit (al-Ruh). He did not know how to answer and hoped for revelation, which caused him great distress. The polytheists said, "His Lord has abandoned him and detested him." When Gabriel (peace be upon him) descended, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him, "You delayed until I thought ill and longed for you." Gabriel replied, "I was more longing, but I am a commanded servant; when I am sent, I descend, and when I am held back, I am held back." Allah then revealed this verse and Surah al-Duha.

"Descending" (al-tanazzul) has two meanings: descending gradually, and descending absolutely. It is the reflexive form of nazala (to descend), and nazala can mean anzala (to cause to descend) or to do so gradually. The most appropriate meaning here is descending gradually. The intent is: our descent at various times is only by the command of Allah, according to what He deems correct and wise.

{To Him belongs what is before us and what is behind us and what is between that} This refers to directions and places. We cannot move from one direction to another or one place to another except by the command and will of the Sovereign. He is the Guardian, All-Knowing of every movement and stillness, and all conditions that occur or renew. Negligence and forgetfulness are impossible for Him. How, then, could we move within His dominion unless He sees it as a matter of benefit and wisdom and grants us permission?

• Other interpretations of "what is before us...":
  • What has passed of worldly affairs, what is to come of the Hereafter, and what is between them (the forty years between the two trumpet blasts).
  • What has passed of our lifespans, what remains, and our current state.
  • What existed before our creation and what exists after our annihilation.
  • The earth before us when we descend, the sky behind us, and what is between them.

The meaning is that He encompasses everything; nothing is hidden from Him, not even the weight of an atom. How, then, could we initiate any action except that which is necessitated by His wisdom, commanded by Him, and permitted by Him?

{And your Lord is never forgetful} This means He has not abandoned you, similar to the verse: "Your Lord has not taken leave of you, nor has He detested [you]" (al-Duha: 3). It means the delay in descent was only due to the delay in the command to do so. The withholding of revelation was not due to Allah abandoning you, but because it was contingent upon wisdom.

Another interpretation: This is a narration of the words of the righteous when they enter Paradise: "We do not descend into Paradise except by Allah’s grace upon us for our deeds and His command for us to enter it." He is the Owner of all affairs—past, future, and present—the One who is kind in facilitating good deeds, the One who grants success for them, and the One who rewards them.

Then Allah says, confirming their statement: {And your Lord is never forgetful} of the deeds of the workers, nor negligent of what they deserve as reward. How could forgetfulness or negligence be possible for the Owner of the dominion of the heavens, the earth, and what is between them? Then He said to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): "Since you have known Him by this attribute, turn to work and worship Him; He will reward you just as He rewarded others among the righteous."

• Variants: Al-A'raj read it as wa-yatanazzal (with a ya), narrating from Gabriel (peace be upon him), with the pronoun referring to the revelation. Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) read: "Except by the word of your Lord."

{Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them—so worship Him and have patience for His worship. Do you know of any name for Him?}