Al-Qur'an Surah An-Naba Verse 38

Mufti Taqi Usmani

on the Day when the Spirit and the angels will stand in rows. They will not speak, except the one who is permitted by the RaHmān (the All-Merciful Allah) and speaks aright.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

on the Day the ˹holy˺ spirit[[ i.e., the angel Gabriel.]] and the angels will stand in ranks. None will talk, except those granted permission by the Most Compassionate and whose words are true.

Ruwwad Translation Center

On the Day when the Spirit and the angels will stand in rows; none will dare to speak, except those to whom the Most Compassionate granted permission, and they will only speak the truth.

A. J. Arberry

Upon the day when the Spirit and the angels stand in ranks they shall speak not, save him to whom the All-merciful has given leave, and who speaks aright.

Abdul Haleem

On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in rows, they will not speak except for those to whom the Lord of Mercy gives permission, who will say only what is right.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

On the Day whereon the spirits and the angels will stand arrayed, they will not be able to speak save him whom the Compassionate giveth leave and who speaketh aright.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Day that the Spirit and the angels will stand forth in ranks, none shall speak except any who is permitted by (Allah) Most Gracious, and He will say what is right.

Abul Ala Maududi

The Day when the Spirit and the angels are ranged row on row. None shall speak save he whom the Merciful Lord will permit; and he too will speak what is right.

Ahmed Ali

The day the Spirit takes its stand, with the angels ranged in rows. None will speak except who is permitted by Ar-Rahman and says what is right.

Ahmed Raza Khan

The day when Jibreel and all the angels will stand in rows; none will be able to speak except one whom the Most Gracious commands and who spoke rightly. (Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him – will be the first to be granted permission to intercede.)

Ali Quli Qarai

on the day when the Spirit and the angels stand in an array: none shall speak except someone who is permitted by the All-beneficent and says what is rightful.

Ali Ünal

On that Day the Spirit and the angels stand in ranks. No one will speak except him whom the All-Merciful allows, and he speaks what is right.

Amatul Rahman Omar

(All this will be) on the Day (of Resurrection) when the Perfect Spirit and the angels will stand in rows, none shall speak except he (- Muhammad) to whom the Most Gracious (God) will grant permission and who will speak (only) what is right.

English Literal

A day/time the Soul/Spirit and the angels stand (in) a row/arranged , they do not speak/talk ,except who the merciful permitted/allowed for him, and he said right/correct.

Faridul Haque

The day when Jibreel and all the angels will stand in rows; none will be able to speak except one whom the Most Gracious commands and who spoke rightly. (Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him – will be the first to be granted permission to intercede.)

Hamid S. Aziz

The day on which the Spirit and the angels shall stand arrayed; they speak not except him whom the Beneficent permits and who speaks aright.

Hilali & Khan

The Day that Ar-Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel) or another angel] and the angels will stand forth in rows, none shall speak except him whom the Most Beneficent (Allah) allows, and he will speak what is right.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

That is the True Day, so whoever desires may take refuge with his Lord.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

The day on which the spirit and the angels shall stand in ranks; they shall not speak except he whom the Beneficent Allah permits and who speaks the right thing.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

On the day when the angels and the Spirit stand arrayed, they speak not, saving him whom the Beneficent alloweth and who speaketh right.

Muhammad Sarwar

On that day, the Spirit and the angels who stand in lines will not speak except those whom the Beneficent God has permitted, and he will speak the right words.

Qaribullah & Darwish

On that Day, when the Spirit (Gabriel) and the angels stand in ranks they shall not speak, except he to whom the Merciful has given permission, and sayswhat is right.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

The Day that Ar-Ruh and the angels will stand forth in rows, they will not speak except him whom Ar-Rahman allows, and he will speak what is right.

Wahiduddin Khan

On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in ranks, no one will speak, except for those to whom the Lord of Mercy gives permission, and who will say only what is right.

Talal Itani

On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in row. They will not speak, unless it be one permitted by the Most Merciful, and he will say what is right.

Tafsir jalalayn

on the day (yawma is the adverbial qualifier for l yamlikna, `they will not be able to') when the Spirit, Gabriel, or God's hosts, and the angels stand arrayed (saffan is a circumstantial qualifier, in other words, mustaffna). They, creatures, will not speak, except him whom the Compassionate One permits, to speak, and who says what is right, from among the believers and the angels; as if [meaning] that they will intercede for he whom He approves of.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الرُّوحُ وَالْمَلَيِكَةُ صَفًّا لاَّ يَتَكَلَّمُونَ


The Day that Ar-Ruh and the angels will stand forth in rows, they will not speak. (78;38)

The word Ruh here is referring to the angel Jibril. This has been said by Ash-Sha`bi, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Ad-Dahhak.

This is as Allah says,

نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الاٌّمِينُ

عَلَى قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنْذِرِينَ

Which the trustworthy Ruh has brought down. Upon your heart that you may be of the warners. (26;193-194)

Muqatil bin Hayyan said,

"The Ruh is the noblest of the angels, the closest of them to the Lord, and the one who delivers the revelation."

Allah said;

إِلاَّ مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ الرحْمَنُ

except him whom Ar-Rahman allows,

This is similar to Allah's statement,

يَوْمَ يَأْتِ لَا تَكَلَّمُ نَفْسٌ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ

On the Day when it comes, no person shall speak except by His leave. (11;105)

This is similar to what has been confirmed in the Sahih, that the Prophet said,

وَلَا يَتَكَلَّمُ يَوْمَيِذٍ إِلاَّ الرُّسُل

And none will speak on that Day except the Messengers."

Allah said,

وَقَالَ صَوَابًا




and he will speak what is right.

meaning, the truth. And from the truth is the fact that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah.

This is as Abu Salih and Ikrimah both said.

In reference to Allah's statement