مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ 4
Translations
Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.
Transliteration
Maliki yawmi ad-din
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah means 'Master of the Day of Judgment,' affirming Allah's absolute sovereignty and control over the Day of Recompense when all souls will be judged. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah establishes Allah's exclusive authority to judge humanity, providing comfort to believers who trust in His perfect justice and warning to those who deny His power. The word 'Malik' (Master/King) specifically denotes ownership and dominion, distinguishing Allah's role as the sole arbiter of eternal consequences.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Fatihah, which was revealed in Mecca and is considered the opening supplication of the Quran. It follows the acknowledgment of Allah's praise and mercy (Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim) and leads naturally to recognizing His ultimate authority over judgment, establishing a progression from His attributes of mercy to His attributes of justice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best supplication is that of the Day of Arafah, and the best that I and the prophets before me have said is: There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet emphasized the certainty of the Day of Judgment as a fundamental article of faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that all worldly power and authority are temporary, while only Allah possesses ultimate judgment on the Day of Resurrection, encouraging Muslims to live with consciousness of accountability and to seek justice through trust in Allah's perfect wisdom rather than human systems alone.