Qatādah and al-Kalbī, commenting on His words,

“Until, when panic is removed from their hearts” (1),

said (2): When the interval between Jesus and Muhammad occurred and revelation descended,

Qatādah explained: It came down with a sound like iron striking rock, and that startled the angels. Concerning this He said,

“Until, when panic is removed from their hearts” (1),

that is, when the dread is lifted (3) from their hearts,

“they say, ‘What has your Lord said?’ They answer, ‘The truth, and He is the Most High, the Most Great.’” (1)

This verse—and the numerous hadiths found in the Ṣaḥīḥ collections, the Sunan, the Musnads, and the reports of the early generations that explain it—contains fundamental principles of faith. Through it the error of those who oppose these truths is exposed, such as the Sabian-inclined philosophers (4), the Jahmiyyah, and others like them.

It shows, as the Quran itself makes clear, that the angels do not intercede except after Allah grants them permission (5), let alone act on their own initiative. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?” (6)

He, glorified be He, also says:

“They say, ‘The Most Compassionate has taken a son.’ Exalted is He! Rather, they are honored servants; they do not precede Him in speech and they act only by His command. He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they intercede only for those He approves, and they stand in awe of Him.” (7)

And He says: “And how many an angel there is in the heavens whose intercession will avail nothing except after…"