فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْمَشَـٰرِقِ وَٱلْمَغَـٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَـٰدِرُونَ 40
Translations
So I swear by the Lord of [all] risings and settings that indeed We are able
Transliteration
Falā uqsimu bi-Rabbi al-mashāriqi wa-al-maghāribi innā laqādirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah swears by His lordship over the East and West—representing the entire creation and dominion—affirming His absolute power and capability. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a divine oath emphasizing Allah's complete sovereignty and His ability to resurrect the dead and judge humanity on the Day of Judgment, addressing the disbelievers' arrogant denial of resurrection.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Ma'arij, a Meccan surah revealed during the early Meccan period when polytheists mocked the concept of resurrection. The surah addresses the disbelievers' arrogance and their rejection of divine signs, with this particular verse serving as a powerful affirmation of Allah's dominion and capability in response to their denials.
Related Hadiths
The theme of Allah's absolute power relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Nothing is impossible for Allah (La ta'jizu rabbak shay'un).' Additionally, Surah Al-Ma'arij's context connects to hadiths regarding resurrection and the Day of Judgment found throughout Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's power is absolute and limitless—He controls all directions and dimensions of existence—which should inspire confidence in His promise of resurrection and justice. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that denying divine truth does not diminish Allah's capability, and that true strength lies in submitting to the One who controls all of creation.