وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا 14
Translations
And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa-lillahi mulku as-samawati wa-al-ard. Yaghfiru liman yasha wa-yu'azzabu man yasha. Wa-kana Allahu ghafuran rahima.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute sovereignty over the heavens and earth, and His divine prerogative to forgive whom He wills and punish whom He wills. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes that forgiveness and punishment are acts of divine wisdom and mercy, not injustice, as Allah's dominion is absolute and His actions are always just. The concluding attributes—Al-Ghafur (The Ever-Forgiving) and Ar-Rahman (The Merciful)—indicate that despite possessing power to punish, Allah's essential nature is characterized by forgiveness and compassion.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Fath was revealed after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (6 AH) and deals with the themes of patience, divine wisdom in apparent setbacks, and ultimate victory. This ayah contextualizes the treaty's acceptance within the broader framework of Allah's absolute will and wisdom, reminding believers that while events may seem ambiguous, Allah's dominion encompasses all outcomes and His mercy ultimately prevails.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim (2660): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Allah the Most High said: My mercy precedes My wrath.' This hadith reinforces the ayah's message that forgiveness is primary in Allah's nature. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari (7405) about the 99 names of Allah, particularly Al-Ghafur and Ar-Rahman.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to trust in Allah's ultimate wisdom and justice, understanding that apparent hardships may contain divine mercy, while also inspiring hope that Allah's predominant attribute is forgiveness for those who sincerely repent and seek His mercy.