Quran-96:18 Surah Al-alaq English Translation,Transliteration and Tafsir(Tafseer).

سَنَدۡعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ

Transliteration:( Sanad 'uz zabaaniyah )

18. We shall just call our guards [17]. (Kanzul Imaan Translation)

(18) We will call the angels of Hell.[1953] (Saheen International Translation)

Surah Al-Alaq Ayat 18 Tafsir (Commentry)



  • Tafseer-e-Naeemi (Ahmad Yaar Khan)
  • Ibn Kathir
  • Ala-Madudi
  • Shaheen International

Then Let Him Call His Associates (Surah Al-Alaq, 96:17-18)

Meaning and Explanation:

This verse was revealed in response to Abu Jahl's defiance of the Prophet ﷺ. When he stopped the Prophet from praying at the Ka'bah, Abu Jahl arrogantly declared that he had the power to rally a group of men to oppose the Prophet ﷺ. In response to this, Allah reveals that Abu Jahl can call upon his associates, but Allah will call upon His own Zabaniyah — a group of angels tasked with arresting the disbelievers and throwing them into Hell.

The Zabaniyah angels are described as those who will catch and imprison the wrongdoers on the Day of Judgement. This response is a clear demonstration of Allah’s power and the futility of Abu Jahl’s threats, as even the most powerful human enemies cannot stand against Allah's divine retribution.

Key Lessons and Insights:

  1. The Prophet ﷺ's Status:

    • The verse highlights the immense status of the Prophet ﷺ in the sight of Allah. When Abu Jahl opposed the Prophet ﷺ, he was not merely opposing a man, but Allah’s Messenger. Therefore, Allah’s response was not simply to allow the Prophet’s followers to retaliate, but to call upon His divine Zabaniyah angels to deal with the enemy.
  2. The Angels Serve the Prophet ﷺ:

    • This verse shows that all angels are at the service of the Prophet ﷺ. The Zabaniyah angels serve as a reserve force, ready to execute Allah’s commands. It illustrates that even a single angel would be more than enough to destroy the enemies of Islam, but Allah’s plan is much greater in scope.
  3. Command for Expression, Not Obligation:

    • The command to “call his associates” is not an obligation for Abu Jahl, but rather an expression of Allah’s wrath. The verse serves as a reminder that defiance of the Prophet ﷺ and arrogance in front of Allah will lead to certain destruction, no matter how much power one possesses.

Ibn-Kathir

The tafsir of Surah Alaq verse 18 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Alaq ayat 6 which provides the complete commentary from verse 6 through 19.


Ala-Maududi

(96:18) We too shall summon the guards of Hell.[15]


15. According to the explanation given by Qatadah, the word zabaniyah in the original is used for the police in Arabic idiom, and zaban actually means to push away. The kings too kept armed attendants who would push out the one with whom the king was annoyed and angry. Therefore, what Allah means is: Let him call his supporters; We too shall summon Our Police, i.e. the angels of torment, to deal with him and his supporters.

(18) We will call the angels of Hell.[1953]

[1953]- Those who push the wicked into the Fire.

Surah Al-Alaq All Ayat (Verses)

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