وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 189
Translations
And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allāh is over all things competent.
Transliteration
Wa lillahi mulku as-samawati wa al-ardi wa allahu ala kulli shay'in qadīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms the absolute sovereignty and ownership of Allah over all creation—the heavens and the earth—and establishes His complete power over all things. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this declaration negates any autonomy or ultimate authority apart from Allah, serving as a foundational principle for Islamic monotheism (tawhid) and submission to divine will.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of divine attributes and the relationship between Allah and creation. It follows verses addressing trials and blessings, reinforcing that all temporal authority and material possessions ultimately belong to Allah alone, not to human rulers or the wealthy.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best supplication is: Allahumma anta rabbī, lā ilāha illā anta' (O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship but You) - a hadith from Jami' at-Tirmidhi that echoes the recognition of Allah's unique sovereignty.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that worldly possessions and positions of authority are temporary trusts from Allah, not permanent possessions, which should inspire gratitude, humility, and just stewardship. It also provides comfort in times of hardship by reminding us that all affairs ultimately rest in the hands of the All-Powerful, encouraging reliance on Allah (tawakkul) rather than fear of created beings.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ تَبْيَضُّ وُجُوهٌ وَتَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهٌ ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْوَدَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ أَكَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
On the Day [some] faces will turn white and [some] faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black, [to them it will be said], "Did you disbelieve [i.e., reject faith] after your belief? Then taste the punishment for what you used to reject."
قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ ءَايَةٌ فِى فِئَتَيْنِ ٱلْتَقَتَا ۖ فِئَةٌ تُقَـٰتِلُ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَأُخْرَىٰ كَافِرَةٌ يَرَوْنَهُم مِّثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْىَ ٱلْعَيْنِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
Already there has been for you a sign in the two armies which met [in combat at Badr] - one fighting in the cause of Allāh and another of disbelievers. They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight. But Allāh supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision.
لِيَقْطَعَ طَرَفًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَوْ يَكْبِتَهُمْ فَيَنقَلِبُوا۟ خَآئِبِينَ
That He might cut down a section of the disbelievers or suppress them so that they turn back disappointed.
فَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
And whoever turned away after that - they were the defiantly disobedient.