Tafseer of The Star · An-Najm · 53:26
And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail at all except [only] after Allah has permitted [it] to whom He wills and approves.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
And His word: وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغْنِي شَفَٰعَتُهُمْ شَيْـًٔا (53:26). The Exalted, Whose praise is exalted, says: and how many an angel is there in the heavens whose intercession avails nothing — a great number of Allah's angels, whose intercession with Allah avails him for whom they intercede nothing, except that they intercede for him after Allah has given them permission to intercede for whom He wills of them that they should intercede for him, and with whom He is pleased. He says: and after He is pleased with His angels who intercede for him that they should intercede for him, then their intercession avails him at that moment. This is only a rebuke from Allah, the Exalted, Whose praise is exalted, to the idolaters and the leading men of the Quraysh and others, who used to say: مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى ٱللَّهِ زُلْفَىٰ (39:3). Allah, mighty and exalted is His praise, then said to them: the intercession of My angels, who are with Me, does not avail the one for whom they intercede, except after I have given them permission to intercede for him, and with My good pleasure — how then would it be with the intercession of those who are less than they? Thus He made known to them that the intercession of what they worship besides Him does not avail them.
