Tafsir of Al-Ahzab 33:43

"It is He who sends blessings upon you..."

Since the nature of one who prays (musalli) involves bending in bowing and prostration, the term was metaphorically applied to anyone who "bends" toward another out of compassion and kindness—like one visiting the sick, or a mother leaning over her child. It became so common that it was used to mean mercy and tenderness. Hence the saying: "May Allah bless you (salla Allahu 'alayk)," meaning: May He have mercy on you and be kind to you.

If you ask: If you interpret "It is He who sends blessings upon you" as "He has mercy on you and is kind to you," what do you make of the phrase "and His angels"? What is the meaning of their blessing?

I say: It is their saying, "O Allah, bless the believers." Because their prayers are answered, it is as if they are the ones performing the mercy and kindness. This is similar to the saying, "May Allah grant you life (hayyaka Allah)," meaning: May He grant you life and sustain you. And "I greeted you (hayyaytuka)," meaning: I prayed that Allah grant you life. Because you rely on the answering of your prayer, it is as if you are truly granting them life. The same applies to "May Allah grant you long life ('ammaraka Allah)," "I prayed for your long life ('ammartuka)," "May Allah give you to drink (saqaka Allah)," and "I prayed for you to be given to drink (saqaytuka)."

Upon this is the Almighty’s saying: "Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet; O you who have believed, ask [Allah to send] blessings upon him" (Al-Ahzab: 56), meaning: Pray to Allah that He may bless him.

The meaning is: He is the One who has mercy on you and is kind to you, as He calls you to goodness and commands you to increase in remembrance and to devote yourselves to prayer and obedience, "to bring you out" from the darkness of disobedience into the light of obedience. "And He is ever, to the believers, Merciful"—this is evidence that what is intended by "blessing" is mercy.

It is narrated that when the verse "Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet" was revealed, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Messenger of Allah, no honor has been specified for you but that we have been made partners in it." Then was revealed: "Their greeting [on the Day they meet Him] will be, 'Peace'"—this is an instance of the verbal noun being attributed to the object, meaning: They will greet Him on the day of meeting Him with peace.

It is possible that Allah honors them with His peace upon them, just as He honors them with all other types of honor, or that it is a greeting upon meeting, as we have explained.

It is also said: It is the greeting of the Angel of Death and the angels with him upon them, bringing them glad tidings of Paradise.

It is also said: It is the greeting of the angels when they emerge from their graves.

It is also said: It is when they enter Paradise, as He said: "And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, 'Peace be upon you'" (Ar-Ra'd: 23-24).

"And a noble reward": This is Paradise.

"O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And one who invites to Allah, by His permission, and an illuminating lamp."