Tafsir of Al-Anbiya' 21:26

It was revealed regarding the Khuza‘a tribe, who claimed: "The angels are the daughters of God." He [God] declared Himself exalted above that.

Then, He informed [us] about them that they are servants, and servitude contradicts [the concept of] procreation. However, they are "honored"—brought near to Me and preferred over all other servants due to the states and attributes they possess which others do not. This is what deceived those who claimed they were My children—I am exalted far above that.

It is also recited as mukramūn (honored) and "they do not precede Him in speech" (with a damma on the ya), from the verb sābaqtuhu fasabaqtuhu asbiquhu (I competed with him and surpassed him). The meaning is: they follow His speech and do not say anything until He has spoken; thus, their speech does not precede His. The intent is "in their speech," where the lam acts as a substitute for the genitive construction (idafa). That is, they do not advance their speech before His, just as you say, "I surpassed him with my horse."

Just as their speech is subordinate to His speech, their actions are likewise built upon His command: they do not perform any action unless they are commanded to do so. Everything they do or leave undone, what they put forward or delay, is under the gaze of God, and He will recompense them for it. Because they are encompassed by this [divine awareness], they restrain themselves, observe their states, and fill their times [with devotion]. Among their precautions is that they do not dare to intercede except for one whom God has approved and deemed worthy of intercession, for the sake of increasing reward and exaltation.

Furthermore, despite all this, they are "fearful" of God—that is, they are expectant [of punishment] from the slightest sign, existing in a state of caution and vigilance, never feeling secure from the plan of God. It is reported from the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) that he saw Gabriel (peace be upon him) on the night of the Ascension, collapsed like a worn-out mat out of fear of God.

After describing their honor before Him, the closeness of their status to Him, praising them, and attributing to them those sublime actions and pleasing deeds, He suddenly issues a severe threat. He warns of the punishment of Hell anyone among them who associates partners with Him—if this were to be taken as a hypothetical premise and illustration, despite His knowledge that it will not happen, as He said: "But if they had associated others with Him, then surely would have been worthless for them what they were doing" (Al-An'am: 88). By this, He intends to emphasize the heinousness of polytheism and the greatness of monotheism.

"Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?"