قُلْ هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ 29
Translations
Say, "He is the Most Merciful; we have believed in Him, and upon Him we have relied. And you will [come to] know who it is that is in clear error."
Transliteration
Qul huwa ar-Rahman amannā bihi wa 'alayhi tawakkalnā fa-sataclamūn man huwa fī dhalālin mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that Allah is ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful), and that the believers have faith in Him and rely upon Him alone. Ibn Kathir notes this is a powerful assertion of monotheism in response to the disbelievers' rejection, warning them that they will soon know who is truly in clear error—themselves. Al-Tabari emphasizes that this statement combines affirmation of Allah's attributes (His mercy) with complete trust (tawakkul) as the foundation of faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the conclusion of Surah Al-Mulk, a Meccan chapter focused on Allah's sovereignty and creation. The context addresses the pagans' rejection of the Qur'an and the Prophet's message. The ayah serves as a decisive response to their stubbornness, affirming the believers' conviction and warning of the consequences of disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever says Lā ilāha illā Allāh wholeheartedly enters Paradise' (Sahih Muslim 49). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'The best of reliance upon Allah is to trust in Him completely' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2344), reflecting the tawakkul mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to anchor their faith in Allah's mercy and to cultivate unwavering trust in Him despite opposition, knowing that ultimate vindication belongs to those who believe. For modern readers, it emphasizes that true strength comes not from worldly power or majority opinion, but from sincere faith and reliance upon the All-Merciful.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the worlds,
۞ وَٱذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذْ أَنذَرَ قَوْمَهُۥ بِٱلْأَحْقَافِ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦٓ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
And mention, [O Muḥammad], the brother of ʿAad, when he warned his people in [the region of] al-Aḥqāf - and warners had already passed on before him and after him - [saying], "Do not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."
كَذَٰلِكَ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ فِىٓ أُمَّةٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهَآ أُمَمٌ لِّتَتْلُوَا۟ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ بِٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ۚ قُلْ هُوَ رَبِّى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ مَتَابِ
Thus have We sent you to a community before which [other] communities have passed on so you might recite to them that which We revealed to you, while they disbelieve in the Most Merciful. Say, "He is my Lord; there is no deity except Him. Upon Him I rely, and to Him is my return."
أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْوَهَّابِ
Or do they have the depositories of the mercy of your Lord, the Exalted in Might, the Bestower?