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wa-mā natanazzalu ʾillā bi-ʾamri rabbika lahū mā bayna ʾaydīnā wa-mā khalfanā wa-mā bayna dhālika wa-mā kāna rabbuka nasiyyan
[O Gabriel, tell the Prophet,] ‘We do not descend except by the command of your Lord. To Him belongs whatever is before us and whatever is behind us and whatever is in between that, and your Lord does not forget
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Maryam – Verse 64
64. “And we (angels) do not descend but by the command of your Lord; to Him belongs whatever is before us and whatever is behind us and whatever is between these (two)! And your Lord is not forgetful.”
Occasions of Revelation
Upon the preceding verse, a group of commentators have said that the descent of the revelations of Allah was discontinued for a few days, Gabriel, the harbinger of divine revelation, did not come to the Prophet (S). After this period, when Gabriel came to the Prophet (S) he asked him why he delayed and he (the Prophet) was anxious to see him. Gabriel said:
“I am more anxious (to see you), but I am a commissioned servant. When I am commanded to come, I come; and when I am not commanded, I restrain (to come).” 32
For these verses, of course, there is a particular occasion of revelation, which was referred to in the above, but this matter does not hinder that there be a logical connection and relation between them and the former verses. This is an emphasis on the fact that whatever verses Gabriel has brought are utterly from the side of Allah and nothing is said from himself. The first verse, from the tongue of the harbinger of revelation, says:
Every thing belongs to Him and we (angels) are some servants all submitted, because:
In short, the future and the past and present, here and there and everywhere, this world and Hereafter and the intermediate world all belong to the Pure Essence of Allah. And, you should also do know that your Lord has not been, and is not, forgetful. The verse says:
Footnotes