Juz 19: Al-Furqān 21 to An-Naml 55
Section 4 of 19 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
4. Characteristics of Ibad ar-Rahman (Servants of Allah)
After presenting powerful signs of His majesty in creation, Allah (swt) then describes the characteristics of His chosen servants, referred to as Ibad ar-Rahman (the servants of the Most Merciful). This beautiful passage provides a comprehensive outline of the qualities that define the true believers who are beloved to Allah.
The first quality mentioned is humility in their walk and demeanor:
وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا
“The servants of the Rahman (the All-Merciful) are those who walk on the earth gently, and when the ignorant people address them, they reply peacefully.”
This verse establishes that the believers' humility manifests physically in their gait. They walk with dignity and purpose, without arrogance or ostentation. This physical humility reflects their spiritual state. When confronted by ignorant or harsh speech, they respond with "salām" (peace), diffusing tension rather than escalating it. They do not engage with ignorance, but rather dissolve the situation and move on.
The next characteristic is their devoted night worship:
وَالَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّدًا وَقِيَامًا
“And those who pass the night prostrating themselves and standing before their Lord.”
In the quietude of night, when others sleep, these servants stand before Allah (swt) in prayer. Their worship extends beyond obligatory prayers to include voluntary night prayers (tahajjud), demonstrating their deep love for communion with their Creator.
They also display profound consciousness of the Hereafter, constantly aware of the accountability before Allah:
وَالَّ