Ibn 'Abbas said regarding the statement of Allah the Exalted, “And there is not a leaf that falls but He knows it”: there is no tree in the desert or the sea but that an angel is assigned to it, recording what falls from it.
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The Shaykh : He said: Ibn 'Abbas said regarding the statement of Allah the Exalted: [Al-An'am 6:59]: there is no tree in the desert or the sea but that an angel is assigned to it, recording what falls from it. This is the end of the quotation from Ibn Kathir’s tafsir.
Is this statement to be understood in this way, and what is the basis for this wording? And are angels assigned to those who are not accountable?
Answer: Yes, I say that Allah knows best. Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was known for taking knowledge from the Children of Israel, but he said this as an interpretation of the Qur'an. We do not affirm anything except what the Qur'an indicates: “He knows it.” And Allah knows best whether it is recorded, whether an angel is assigned to it, or not.
Not a leaf falls but that He knows it
وما تسقط من ورقة إلا يعلمهاIs this statement to be understood in this way, and what is the basis for this wording? And are angels assigned to those who are not accountable?
Answer: Yes, I say that Allah knows best. Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was known for taking knowledge from the Children of Israel, but he said this as an interpretation of the Qur'an. We do not affirm anything except what the Qur'an indicates: “He knows it.” And Allah knows best whether it is recorded, whether an angel is assigned to it, or not.