Fell down: kharra — literally “to tumble from a height”; here it means that they lowered themselves in prostration.

First: with the vowel fatḥa, it functions as the predicate (khabar) of the verb yakūn.

To wherever Allah has commanded him: throughout the heavens and the earth.

Overall meaning of the ḥadīth: The Prophet ﷺ informs us of his Lord’s majesty: whenever the Exalted One speaks whatever He wills of revelation, the heavens are seized by a violent quaking out of fear of Allah, for they are aware of His greatness. When the angels hear Allah’s words, they swoon and drop into prostration in reverence and awe. Gabriel — peace be upon him — is the first to raise his head, for he is the envoy between Allah and His messengers. Allah then speaks to him with whatever command He wills. Gabriel passes among the angels of the heavens, and each time he reaches a heaven its angels ask, “What has our Lord said?” He answers, “He has spoken the truth; He is the Most High, the Most Great,” and they repeat exactly what he says. Gabriel then proceeds with the revelation until he delivers it to the one whom Allah has commanded him to address.

Relevance of the ḥadīth to the chapter: Like the texts that precede it, this narration sets out Allah’s majesty and the fear that the angels and the heavens have of Him; thus it refutes those who worship anything besides Allah.

Lessons derived from the ḥadīth:

1. A rebuttal of the polytheists who have taken created beings as deities alongside Allah.
2. A demonstration of Allah’s immense greatness and His exclusive right to worship.
3. Affirmation that Allah speaks whenever, with whatever, and however He wills.
4. Affirmation that Allah is exalted above His creation.
5. The virtue of Gabriel, peace be upon him.