قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ 24
Translations
[Moses] said, "The Lord of the heavens and earth and that between them, if you should be convinced."
Transliteration
Qala Rabbu as-samawati wa-al-ardi wa ma baynahuma in kuntum muqnineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Musa responds to Pharaoh's demand for identification by declaring that his Lord is the Lord of the heavens, the earth, and everything between them. This statement affirms the absolute sovereignty and oneness of Allah, implicitly rejecting Pharaoh's false claims to divinity. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that Musa's response is not merely theological but a direct challenge to Pharaoh's idolatry, presenting monotheism as the foundation of belief and certainty (yaqin).
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Musa's confrontation with Pharaoh, a central Meccan theme addressing the polytheists of Mecca. The surah uses the story of Musa as a parallel to the Prophet Muhammad's struggle against the Quraysh, encouraging believers to recognize and submit to the one true Lord despite opposition from those claiming power and authority.
Related Hadiths
Hadith Qudsi: 'I am as My servant expects of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me' (Sahih Bukhari 7405) - relates to the theme of certainty (yaqin) mentioned in the ayah. Also relevant: The hadith on Tawhid (monotheism) from Ibn Abbas regarding the verse's emphasis on Allah's lordship over all creation (Jami' at-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true conviction (yaqin) rests upon recognizing Allah's complete dominion over all creation, not merely intellectual assent. For modern readers, it emphasizes that authentic faith requires acknowledging Allah's lordship over every aspect of existence and rejecting all false authorities and idols that compete for human allegiance.
Related Ayahs
إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
Your god is one God. But those who do not believe in the Hereafter - their hearts are disapproving, and they are arrogant.
وَٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْأَزْوَٰجَ كُلَّهَا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْفُلْكِ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ مَا تَرْكَبُونَ
And who created the species, all of them, and has made for you of ships and animals those which you mount
قَالَ بَل رَّبُّكُمْ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنَا۠ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
He said, "[No], rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth who created them, and I, to that, am of those who testify.
شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Allāh witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.