English Translation of Al-Quran
[42]. Surah Ash-Shura [The Consultation]
Ayat 5. Nearly the heavens might rent asunder from above them (by His Majesty), and the angels glorify the praises of their Lord, and ask for forgiveness for those on the earth, verily, Allah is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Tafseer of Surah Al Shura (Consultation) Ayat 5. The heavens are almost rent asunder from above them (by Him Glory): and the angels celebrate the Praises of their Lord, and pray for forgiveness for (all) beings on earth: Behold! Verily Allah is He, the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. How can we conceive of sublimity and greatness in a higher degree than this, that the highest heavens are almost ready to burst asunder by His Glory, which is higher than all? The angels are the noblest and purest beings of whom we can conceive. They reflect on the one side Allah’s Glory and Praise, and on the other, two other attributes of Allah, that look towards His erring creatures, viz.: Forgiveness and Mercy. The two sets of attributes are complementary. They thus proclaim in their own being and in their prayers the Greatness and unbounded Goodness of Allah.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) said, “The superiority of the learned over the devout worshipper is like my superiority over the most inferior amongst you (in good deeds).” He went on to say, “Allah, His angels, the dwellers of the heaven and the earth, and even the ant in its hole and the fish (in water) supplicate in favor of those who teach people knowledge.”
[At-Tirmidhi, Hadith # 2685]
Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Ash-Shura Ayat 05. “The angels glorify the praises of their Lord, and ask for forgiveness for those on the earth” Alim (learned person) here means scholar of the Qur’an and Hadith, who adheres to Faraid and Sunnah and remains busy in learning and imparting knowledge. `Abid (devout worshipper) is one who spends most of his time in the worship of Allah. The benefit of his voluntary prayer and remembrance of Allah is restricted to his own self while the benefit of knowledge of the scholar reaches others also. Hence, of the two, the latter is far superior. If Salat is mentioned with reference to Allah, it denotes “Allah’s Grace with Mercy;” if it is mentioned with reference to the angels, it denotes “to pray for forgiveness;” and if it is mentioned with reference to other creatures – men, animals, etc., – then it means prayer and supplication. Thus, Allah graces that person with His Mercy who teaches people the beneficial knowledge, i.e., the knowledge of Islam; angels pray to Allah to forgive his (or her) sins; and other creatures pray for his (or her) well-being. In this way, this Hadith stresses the distinction of religious scholars and highlights the esteem in which they are held by Allah, His angels and His other creatures.