Az-Zukhruf · Ayah 82

سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ 82

Translations

Exalted is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.

Transliteration

Subhana Rabbi as-samawati wal-ardi Rabbi al-arshi amma yasifun

Tafsir (Explanation)

This ayah is a declaration of Allah's absolute transcendence and perfection, glorifying Him beyond all the false descriptions attributed to Him by the disbelievers and idolaters. Ibn Kathir explains that the verse emphasizes Allah's exaltation above the creation of the heavens and earth, and above the Throne (Arsh), refuting the polytheists' blasphemous claims and distortions about His nature. Al-Qurtubi notes that this tasbih (glorification) serves as both a rebuttal to false claims and an affirmation of Allah's unique attributes of perfection.

Revelation Context

This ayah appears near the end of Surah Az-Zukhruf, which is a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists' rejection of monotheism and their false descriptions of Allah. The specific context involves refuting the idolaters' claim that angels are daughters of Allah—a grave distortion that prompted this powerful declaration of Allah's transcendence beyond all inadequate human descriptions.

Related Hadiths

The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized the virtue of tasbih; Jabir reported in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet said, 'The best supplication is 'Alhamdulillah' (praise be to Allah), and the best remembrance is 'La ilaha illallah' (there is none worthy of worship except Allah).' Additionally, the concept of Allah's incomparability is reinforced in various hadith collections discussing the Names and Attributes of Allah.

Themes

Tawhid (Monotheism)Allah's Transcendence and PerfectionRefutation of Polytheistic ClaimsDivine AttributesGlorification of Allah (Tasbih)

Key Lesson

This ayah teaches believers to firmly reject false and diminishing descriptions of Allah, recognizing His complete transcendence beyond human limitation and inadequate understanding. It encourages constant glorification of Allah as a means of spiritual protection against misguidance and idolatrous thinking in all its forms.

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Related Ayahs

34:22Saba

قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُۥ مِنْهُم مِّن ظَهِيرٍ

Say, [O Muḥammad], "Invoke those you claim [as deities] besides Allāh." They do not possess an atom's weight [of ability] in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant.

2:163Al-Baqarah

وَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

4:48An-Nisa

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفْتَرَىٰٓ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا

Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.

18:110Al-Kahf

قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا

Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."