What does Quran 50:17 mean?

Quran 50:17 (Surah Qaaf, Ayah 17) translates to: "When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left."

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 50:17 from?

This ayah is from Surah Qaaf (The letter Qaaf), the 50th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 26.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 50:17?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Dawud, Sahih Muslim.

What tafsir is available for Quran 50:17?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn, Ibn Abbas — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 50:17 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Knowledge, Accountability, Intention and Reward, Forgiveness, Taqwa.

Ayah 16

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَ...

50:17Qaaf

Ayah 18

مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ ع...

إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى ٱلْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌۭ

'Iz yatalaqqal mutalaqqi yaani 'anil yameeni wa 'anish shimaali qa'eed

When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left.

Themes in this ayah

Explore in Habl →

Day of Judgment63 Decree & what is written58

Scores run 0–100: how strongly this ayah speaks to a theme. 70+ is central, 50+ is clear, under 50 is weak.

1 other theme with a weak connection

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50:17Ayah 145

9 ayahs in Qaaf are strongly about the Day of Judgment.

← Previous on Day of Judgment50:3When we have died and have become dust, [we will return to life]? That is a distant return."Next on Day of Judgment →50:20And the Horn will be blown. That is the Day of [carrying out] the threat.

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 50:17→

When idh is dependent because of an implied udhkur ‘mention’ the two Receivers the two angels charged with recording a person’s deeds receive when they observe and record seated that is while both of them are sitting qa‘īdun ‘seated’ is the subject the predicate of which is the preceding clause on the right and on the left hand side of him —

“Pass it around to the right.”

Sunan Abu Dawud #4144Narrated Jabir ibn Samurah:Sahih

When I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) in his house, I saw him sitting reclining on a pillow. The narrator Ibn al-Jarrah added: "on his left side". Abu Dawud said: Ishaq b. Mansur transmitted it from Isra'il, also mentioning the words "on his left side".

Sunan Abu Dawud #1151The above mentioned tradition has also been narrated by Ibn Shihab through a different chain of transmitters to the same effect. This version adds:Sahih

"Except the two takers pronounced at the time of the bowing."

Sunan Abu Dawud #685Talhah b. 'Ubaid Allah reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying:Sahih

When you place in front of you something such as the back of a saddle, then there is no harm if someone passes in front of you (i.e. the other side of it).

Sahih Muslim #887It was narrated from Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:Sahih

The best rows for men are the first rows, and the worst ones the last ones, and the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first ones.