Chapter: Allah the Exalted says, “Until, when fear is lifted from their hearts, they will say, ‘What has your Lord said?’ They will reply, ‘The truth, and He is the Most High, the Supreme.’” (Sabaʾ 34:23)

Relevance of this chapter to the Book of Tawḥīd: The passage describes the state of the angels, who are stronger and more exalted than any being worshipped besides Allah. If such mighty creatures stand before Him in overwhelming awe and fear, how could they—or anyone beneath them—be invoked alongside Him? This verse therefore refutes all idolaters who call upon beings far inferior to the angels.

fuziʿa ʿan qulubihim: the terror is removed from the angels’ hearts after the swoon that befalls them when they hear Allah’s speech revealed to Gabriel.

qālū: meaning, some of them say to others in delight, “What has your Lord said?” (Sabaʾ 34:23).

qālū al-ḥaqq: that is, Allah has spoken the truth.

wa-huwa al-ʿaliyy: He whose loftiness encompasses the loftiness of rank, of dominion, and of essence.

al-kabīr: the One above whom there is none greater or mightier.

Overall meaning of the verse: Allah, exalted be He, tells us that when the angels hear the revelation from Him to Gabriel they are seized with awe and trembling, to the point that they fall into a swoon. When the dread is lifted from their hearts, they begin asking one another, “What has your Lord said?” They answer, “He has spoken the truth, and He is the Most High….”