What is the meaning of the statement of Allah the Exalted: “And if We had willed, We would have made from among you angels on earth to succeed you, and it is indeed knowledge of the Hour, so do not be in doubt about it”?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. I hope you will clarify this verse in Surat al-Zukhruf, where Allah the Exalted says: [Az-Zukhruf 43:60-61]?
The Shaykh : Allah, Mighty and Majestic, informs that if He had willed, He would have made angels in place of humans, because the preposition "min" here indicates substitution, meaning: if We had willed, We would have made angels in your place on earth to succeed you and to populate it with obedience to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, just as the angels populated it with obedience to Allah before the creation of Adam.
And for this reason, when He said to the angels:[Al-Baqarah 2:30]
So Allah the Exalted, if He had willed, would have made angels in our place.
And His statement:[Az-Zukhruf 43:61] means that 'Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him) is a sign of the Hour, meaning that knowledge of the Hour is obtained through him, where Allah, Mighty and Majestic, created him without a father. The One who created him without a father, and the One who created him without a father, is capable of resurrecting people and creating them.
It was also said that the intended meaning is the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), because he is the Seal of the Prophets, so his message would be a sign and evidence of the nearness of the Hour. Yes.
(60) And if We willed, We could have made [instead] of you angels succeeding [one another] on the earth. (61) And indeed, Jesus will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it
ولو نشاء لجعلنا منكم ملائكة في الأرض يخلفون وإنه لعلم للساعة فلا تمترن بهاThe Shaykh : Allah, Mighty and Majestic, informs that if He had willed, He would have made angels in place of humans, because the preposition "min" here indicates substitution, meaning: if We had willed, We would have made angels in your place on earth to succeed you and to populate it with obedience to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, just as the angels populated it with obedience to Allah before the creation of Adam.
And for this reason, when He said to the angels:
And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَSo Allah the Exalted, if He had willed, would have made angels in our place.
And His statement:
indeed, Jesus will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it
إنه لعلم للساعة فلا تمترن بهاIt was also said that the intended meaning is the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), because he is the Seal of the Prophets, so his message would be a sign and evidence of the nearness of the Hour. Yes.