وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِلَـٰهٌ وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَـٰهٌ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ 84
Translations
And it is He [i.e., Allāh] who is [the only] deity in the heaven, and on the earth [the only] deity. And He is the Wise, the Knowing.
Transliteration
Wa huwa alladhi fi as-sama'i ilahun wa fi al-ardi ilahun wa huwa al-hakimu al-alim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms the absolute oneness of Allah (Tawhid) by declaring that He alone is God in the heavens and on earth, emphasizing His universal sovereignty over all creation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain this as a refutation of polytheism and idol-worship, particularly addressing the Meccan pagans' false claim of multiple deities. The concluding attributes—'Al-Hakimu' (The All-Wise) and 'Al-Alim' (The All-Knowing)—emphasize that Allah's dominion is governed by perfect wisdom and complete knowledge of all affairs.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zukhruf is a Meccan surah focused on refuting polytheism and idolatry prevalent in pre-Islamic Arabia. This ayah appears near the conclusion of the surah as a powerful affirmation of monotheism, addressing the spiritual confusion of the Meccan disbelievers who attributed partners to Allah despite His clear signs of unity in creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah (Shirk)' (Sahih Bukhari 4476). Additionally, the Quranic principle in Surah An-Nahl 16:36 states that Allah sent messengers to every people saying 'Worship Allah and avoid Taghut,' directly related to rejecting false deities.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true faith requires acknowledging Allah's absolute oneness in all aspects of life—spiritually, morally, and practically—and that this conviction should inform every decision and relationship. It reminds believers that Allah's perfect wisdom and all-encompassing knowledge govern the universe, encouraging trust in His decree and obedience to His commands.