أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ يُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 40
Translations
Do you not know that to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth? He punishes whom He wills and forgives whom He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent.
Transliteration
Alam ta'lam anna Allaha lahu mulk al-samawati wa-al-ard yu'aththib man yasha wa yaghfir liman yasha wa-Allahu ala kulli shay'in qadir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute sovereignty over the heavens and earth, and His prerogative to punish whom He wills and forgive whom He wills, based on His infinite wisdom and justice. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this divine authority is not arbitrary but rooted in Allah's perfect knowledge and justice, reminding believers that punishment and forgiveness are manifestations of His divine will and wisdom. The ayah serves as both a warning to those who transgress and a source of hope for those who repent.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Al-Ma'idah's discussion of divine laws and judgment. It follows verses addressing the People of the Book and their disputes, reinforcing that ultimate judgment and authority belong solely to Allah. The ayah emphasizes divine omnipotence in response to human tendencies to rely on worldly power or intercession apart from Allah's will.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most merciful of people is the one who shows mercy. Show mercy to those on earth, and the One in the heavens will show mercy to you' (Tirmidhi). This complements the ayah by showing that while Allah's forgiveness is His prerogative, we are encouraged to seek His mercy through righteousness and compassion.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true power and authority rest exclusively with Allah, encouraging humility before His judgment and hope in His mercy; it should inspire us to live righteously, knowing that our ultimate accountability is to the All-Powerful, All-Knowing Creator rather than to worldly forces or human judgment.