فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ وَٱلْأُولَىٰ 25
Translations
Rather, to Allāh belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].
Transliteration
Falillāhi al-ākhiratu wa-al-ūlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that both the life of the Hereafter and the present life belong to Allah alone in their entirety. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse serves as a response to the polytheists' false claims of ownership and authority, emphasizing divine sovereignty over all dimensions of existence. The ayah concludes a passage refuting the pagan Arabs' attributions of daughters to Allah and their polytheistic beliefs.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Najm's refutation of pre-Islamic Arabian idolatry and false beliefs about divinity. Specifically, it follows verses addressing the pagan Arabs' baseless claims about angels and Allah's supposed daughters (53:19-24), using this statement of divine ownership to underscore that all authority and dominion belong exclusively to Allah.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4:54:513): The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah.' This relates thematically to the surah's emphasis on absolute monotheism and Allah's exclusive sovereignty. Also relevant: Surah Al-Fatiha's opening emphasizing Allah as 'Lord of the worlds' (Rabb al-'ālamīn).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to recognize that all aspects of their lives—present and future—are under Allah's dominion, encouraging complete trust in Him and rejection of false authorities or deities. It serves as a powerful reminder that true freedom and security come only from acknowledging Allah's complete sovereignty and submitting exclusively to His will.