لَّهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ 5
Translations
His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. And to Allāh are returned [all] matters.
Transliteration
Lahu mulku as-samawati wa-al-ardi wa-ila Allah turja'u al-umur
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute sovereignty over the heavens and the earth, establishing that all dominion belongs exclusively to Him. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that just as Allah possesses complete ownership of creation, all affairs ultimately return to Him for judgment and resolution, reinforcing His omnipotence and the futility of worldly powers. This declaration serves as a foundational principle in Islamic theology, countering any notion of shared divinity or independent authority among creation.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Hadid is a Medinan surah revealed during the period of Islamic consolidation. This particular ayah appears within a section emphasizing Allah's attributes and sovereignty, providing reassurance to the Muslim community about the ultimate control of affairs despite worldly challenges. The broader context addresses themes of belief, the transience of life, and trust in Divine providence.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best supplication is 'Alhamdulillah' (All praise belongs to Allah), and the best remembrance is 'La ilaha illallah' (There is no deity except Allah)' - emphasizing Allah's unique dominion. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet emphasized that hearts are between two fingers of Allah, highlighting His complete control over all matters.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should recognize that worldly power and possessions are temporary trusts from Allah, not permanent acquisitions, and should conduct themselves with accountability knowing all affairs ultimately return to their Creator for divine judgment. This cultivates humility, ethical responsibility, and reliance on Allah rather than material or human authority.
Related Ayahs
رَبُّ ٱلْمَشْرِقَيْنِ وَرَبُّ ٱلْمَغْرِبَيْنِ
[He is] Lord of the two sunrises and Lord of the two sunsets.
وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ نُحْىِۦ وَنُمِيتُ وَنَحْنُ ٱلْوَٰرِثُونَ
And indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritor.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you wherever you are. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.
صِرَٰطِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ أَلَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ تَصِيرُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
The path of Allāh, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Unquestionably, to Allāh do [all] matters evolve [i.e., return].