وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 129
Translations
And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa-lillahi ma fi al-samawati wa-ma fi al-ardi. Yaghfiru li-man yasha'u wa-yu'aththibu man yasha'u. Wa-allahu ghafurun rahimun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute sovereignty over all creation in the heavens and earth, establishing that forgiveness and punishment are entirely within His divine will and justice. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that while Allah's forgiveness and mercy are boundless, His justice in punishing is equally certain, and both attributes work in harmony—His mercy is not arbitrary leniency nor His justice mere harshness. The concluding affirmation that Allah is 'Most Forgiving, Most Merciful' (Ghafur, Rahimun) provides reassurance that despite His power to punish, His nature is predominantly characterized by forgiveness and compassion.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of Allah's attributes and divine wisdom, particularly following verses addressing human diversity in faith and disbelief. It comes after discussions of Allah's signs and His management of creation, serving to reinforce that all outcomes—spiritual, moral, and temporal—rest solely in Allah's hands, providing comfort to believers facing opposition.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (2751) reports that Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: 'My mercy prevails over My wrath,' which directly relates to the concluding attributes. Additionally, the hadith in Sunan At-Tirmidhi (3235) emphasizes that Allah's mercy encompasses all things, reinforcing the theme of this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that while Allah has complete authority to judge and punish transgressions, His essential nature is mercy and forgiveness—inviting sincere repentance and hope. For the modern believer, it provides comfort that outcomes are in the hands of a Just and Merciful Creator, encouraging submission to His will and trust in His wisdom rather than despair or arrogance.