وَلَهُ ٱلْكِبْرِيَآءُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ 37
Translations
And to Him belongs [all] grandeur within the heavens and the earth, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Transliteration
Wa lahu al-kibriyaa' fi as-samawati wa al-ard, wa huwa al-aziz al-hakim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that all greatness, majesty, and sovereignty belong exclusively to Allah in the heavens and on earth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that 'al-kibriyaa' (supremacy/majesty) encompasses Allah's absolute power, dominion, and might over creation. The ayah concludes by emphasizing two of Allah's essential attributes—Al-Aziz (The Mighty/Invincible) and Al-Hakim (The All-Wise)—indicating that His greatness is coupled with perfect wisdom and justice.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Jathiyah addresses those who stubbornly reject divine guidance despite clear signs. This particular ayah appears near the end of the surah (verse 37 of 37) and serves as a powerful conclusion, reminding the disbelievers that regardless of their arrogance, all magnificence and authority ultimately belong to Allah alone. The thematic context emphasizes humbling oneself before divine sovereignty after discussing human stubbornness and rejection of truth.
Related Hadiths
Related thematically to the hadith in Sahih Muslim wherein the Prophet ﷺ said: 'The greatest ayah in the Qur'an is Ayat al-Kursi (2:255),' which similarly emphasizes Allah's complete sovereignty and knowledge. Also relates to the hadith in Jami' at-Tirmidhi: 'Whoever is humble for the sake of Allah, Allah will exalt him.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that true greatness belongs only to Allah, serving as a spiritual antidote to pride and arrogance in our lives. It reminds us that submitting to Allah's sovereignty with humility is the path to wisdom and strength, not weakness.