English Translation of Al-Quran
[35].Surah Fatir [The Originator of Creation]
Ayat 1. All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the (only) Originator [or the (only) Creator] of the heavens and the earth, who made the angels messengers with wings, – two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Verily, Allah is Able to do all things.
Tafseer of Surah Fatir [The Originator of Creation] Ayat 1. Praise be to Allah, Who created (out of nothing) the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels, messengers with wings,- two, or three, or four (pairs): He adds to Creation as He pleases: for Allah has power over all things. See Cf 34:1. When we praise Allah, it means that we understand and bring to mind that His glory and power are exercised for the good of His Creation, and this is the subject matter of the Surah. As man’s knowledge of the processes of nature advances, he sees how complex is the evolution of matter itself, leaving out the question of Life and the spiritual forces, which are beyond the ken of experimental science. But this knowledge itself becomes a sort of “veil of Light”; man becomes so conscious of the proximate causes, that he is apt, in his pride, to forget the primal Cause, the Cause of Causes, and the ultimate Hand of Allah in Creation. And then, Creation is such a complex process; see some of the ideas involved explained by different words in n. 120 to 2:117. The word fatara here means the creation of primeval matter, to which further creative processes have to be added by the Hand of Allah, or Allah “adds to His Creation as He pleases”, not only in quantity, but in qualities, function, relations, and variations in infinite ways. The grosser ideas which men have of angels must be dismissed from our minds. They are beings expressive of qualities or powers, which may be typified by “wings”. We need not suppose that angelic “wings” have muscles and feathers, like the wings of birds. If they had, how could there be three, or any odd number? We may suppose “two, three, or four” to refer to pairs of wings. But we must not suppose “two, three, or four” to express precise numbers, for in sacred literature we find mention of angels with six hundred wings. And we can imagine angels with just one pair of wings. They are Messengers or Instruments of Allah’s Will, and may have a few or numerous Errands entrusted to them. Cf. the description of the Spirit of Inspiration in 26:193, and of the spirits or angels for executing the Commands of Allah in 79:1-5. Where the complexities of the creative processes are referred to. Allah’s creation did not stop at some past time: it continues, for He has all power, and His mercies are ever poured forth without stint.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) said, Abu Bakar asked, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH)! Teach me some words so that I may recite them in the morning and in the evening.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) said, “Recite these words: `Allahumma fatiras-samawati wal-ardi, `alimal-ghaibi wash-shahadati, Rabba kulli shai’in wa malikahu. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Anta, A’udhu bika min sharri nafsi, wa sharrish-Shaitani wa shirkihi (O Allah! Creator of the heavens and the earth! Knower of the hidden and the exposed! Rubb of everything and everyone. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but You. I seek Your Protection from the evil of my own self from the evil of Satan and from the evil of Shirk to which he calls).”’ The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) added: “Recite these words in the morning and the evening and when you go to bed.”
[Abu Dawud Hadith # 5067 and At-Tirmidhi Hadith # 3392].
Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Fatir Ayat 1. All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the (only) Originator [or the (only) Creator] of the heavens and the earth” It is desirable to recite the invocations cited in the Hadith in the morning and the evening and also when one goes to bed and awakes. The purpose is that the concept of Allah’s Providence and Divinity remains alive all the time in one’s mind. With these words one seeks Allah’s Protection in life and the Hereafter from things which are harmful. One also begs for his safety and guidance in this life and the Hereafter. This Hadith fully expresses one’s recognition of Allah’s Godhood and Lordship.
