28 Preface يَعلَمُ ما بَينَ أَيديهِم وَما خَلفَهُم وَلا يَشفَعونَ إِلّا لِمَنِ ارتَضىٰ وَهُم مِن خَشيَتِهِ مُشفِقونَYusuf AliHe knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable,1 and they2 stand in awe and reverence of His (Glory).Cf. 20:109. “Acceptable” means that they have conformed to the Will of God and obeyed His Law, thus winning the stamp of His approval.They: the usual interpretation refers the pronoun to the servants of God who intercede: it may also refer to those on whose behalf the intercession is made: they do not take it as a matter of course, but stand in due awe and reverence of God’s great glory and mercy.