وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ 109
Translations
To Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And to Allāh will [all] matters be returned.
Transliteration
Wa lillahi ma fi as-samawati wa ma fi al-ard. Wa ila Allah turja'u al-umur.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute ownership and dominion over everything in the heavens and on earth, and that all matters ultimately return to Him for judgment and decision. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a foundational principle of Islamic theology, asserting that all creation belongs exclusively to Allah, and every affair—whether cosmic or human—is ultimately subject to His will and wisdom. Al-Qurtubi notes that this ayah serves as a consolation to believers that despite worldly trials, ultimate authority and justice rest with Allah alone.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan period within Surah Ali 'Imran, a chapter that emphasizes monotheism and addresses disputes with People of the Book. The broader context (3:109-110) discusses Allah's sovereignty and the ummah's responsibility as witnesses to truth, reflecting the early Muslim community's need to anchor their faith in Allah's absolute authority amid religious and political challenges.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah, for Allah says, "To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth"' (referenced in various tafsir works). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the Day of Judgment emphasizes that all matters return to Allah: 'On the Day of Resurrection, the earth will shine with the light of its Lord.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that true power and ownership belong only to Allah, which should free us from anxiety about worldly possessions and conflicts—knowing that all matters ultimately rest in the hands of the All-Wise. It is a call to surrender our affairs to Allah and trust in His judgment, fostering spiritual humility and detachment from material preoccupations.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلًا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ
Who remember Allāh while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
وَقَالَت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَجْهَ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱكْفُرُوٓا۟ ءَاخِرَهُۥ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
And a faction of the People of the Scripture say [to each other], "Believe in that which was revealed to the believers at the beginning of the day and reject it at its end that perhaps they will return [i.e., abandon their religion],
وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِمَن تَبِعَ دِينَكُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْهُدَىٰ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ أَن يُؤْتَىٰٓ أَحَدٌ مِّثْلَ مَآ أُوتِيتُمْ أَوْ يُحَآجُّوكُمْ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And do not trust except those who follow your religion." Say, "Indeed, the [true] guidance is the guidance of Allāh. [Do you fear] lest someone be given [knowledge] like you were given or that they would [thereby] argue with you before your Lord?" Say, "Indeed, [all] bounty is in the hand of Allāh - He grants it to whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Wise."
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
It is He who forms you in the wombs however He wills. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.