19. Surah Maryam, Mecca 44
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ
إِلَّا بِأَمْرِ
رَبِّكَ...
19: 64. (The angels say):
"We descend not but by command of thy Lord:
C2514. We are apt to be impatient of the evils we see around us. We may give of our best service to Allah, and yet see no results. In our human short-sightedness we may complain within ourselves. But we must not be impatient.
The angels of Grace come not haphazard, but by command of Allah according to His Universal Will and Purpose. Allah does not forget. If things are delayed, it is in accordance with a wise providence, which cares for all. Our plain duty is to be patient and constant in His service. (R).
...لَهُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا وَمَا خَلْفَنَا وَمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ...
to Him belongeth what is before us, and what is behind us, and what is between:
...وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا ﴿٦٤﴾
and thy Lord never doth forget" --
19: 64
Asad And [the angels say]: “We do not descend [with revelation], again and again, other than by thy Sustainer’s command; unto Him belongs all that lies open before us and all that is hidden from us and all that is in-between.
Pickthall We (angels) come not down save by commandment of thy Lord. Unto Him belongeth all that is before us and all that is behind us and all that is between those two, and thy Lord was never forgetful
Transliteration Wa ma_ natanaz zalu il la_ bi amri rab bika lahu_ ma_ baina aidina_ wama_ khalfana_ wa ma_ baina dza_lik wa ma_ ka_na rab buka nasiy ya_
[Asad’s note 50: ……..Regarding this idiomatic expression, see 2:255 – “He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them” - ……………….]
[Ruby’s note – What is striking is that in 2:255 human being is mentioned and here angels are mentioned. These unknown things exist for both human as well as for angels. Only God is the knower of everything. The important thing to ponder here is what could lie “in between” ? That may shed a lot of light in a lot of directions. ]