مِن (Min) — implies At-Tab’eed
The use of مِن can imply التَبْعِيض (“some of something”), indicating even a part of a word.
- It implies that he doesn’t even start to say a word except that he has someone who is constantly vigilant.
Vigilance over every utterance
Ayah and translation
مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ #50:18
“He does not utter (even a part of a word) a statement except that he has a Raqeeb ‘Ateed (someone who is constantly vigilant)”.
The Aayah emphasises how a believer must beware of his tongue and what it utters.
Language points and insights
Key linguistic cues that sharpen the meaning and urgency of the Ayah.
رَقِيبٌ (Raqeeb)
- الرُّقُوب، التَّرَقُّب، الاِرْتِقاب carry meanings of observing, watching over, and anticipating.
- رَقَبَة (neck) signifies a place of monitoring and control.
- Being a رَقِيبٌ can imply having your hand over the neck of someone — close monitoring and control.
- Watchful like a shepherd over his sheep; keeps track of everything someone does.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا
عَتِيدٌ (‘Ateed)
- Means ready, prepared, and present.
- Implies Angels who receive and record are constantly ready and present.
- Nothing can slip past them.
Guarding the tongue
Prophetic guidance that amplifies the Ayah’s emphasis on speech.
So, he took hold of his tongue and said, “Restrain this.” I said, “O Prophet of Allah, will we be taken to account for what we say with it?” He ﷺ said: “May your mother be bereaved of you, O Muadh! Is there anything that throws people into the Hellfire upon their faces (or he said: on their noses) except the harvests of their tongues?”
مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَاليَومِ الآخِرِ، فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْراً أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ
Ibn Uthaymeen: words are like bullets—once shot, they cannot be stopped midair and returned.
What is recorded?
Views reported by scholars of Tafsir concerning the Angels’ recording.
Everything
- They record everything, even the whimpers when one is sick.
Reward and punishment
- They only write down what has reward or punishment attached to it.
Related Ayat about recording
Further Qur’anic attestations to noble recorders and comprehensive accounting.
وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَافِظِينَ * كِرَامًا كَاتِبِينَ
“And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers, (10) Noble (Kiraam) and recording”
أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّا لَا نَسْمَعُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَاهُم ۚ بَلَىٰ وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيْهِمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
“Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private conversations? Yes, [Indeed We do], and Our messengers are with them recording”
هَٰذَا كِتَابُنَا يَنطِقُ عَلَيْكُم بِالْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَسْتَنسِخُ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“This, Our record (or Book), speaks about you with the truth. Indeed, We were having transcribed whatever you used to do”