قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ جَمِيعًا ۖ لَّهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ 44
Translations
Say, "To Allāh belongs [the right to allow] intercession entirely. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Then to Him you will be returned."
Transliteration
Qul lillahi ash-shafa'atu jami'an, lahoo mulku as-samawati wal-ard, thumma ilayhi turja'oon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that all intercession (shafa'ah) belongs exclusively to Allah, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty over the heavens and earth, and that all creation will ultimately return to Him for judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a refutation of the pagan Arab practice of seeking intercession through idols and intermediaries, establishing that only Allah grants permission for intercession and that His divine authority is complete and unshared.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in response to the pagans' claim that their idols could intercede on their behalf with Allah. It appears in the context of Surah Az-Zumar's broader theme of monotheism (tawheed) and refutation of polytheistic practices, establishing that the right to grant intercession is Allah's exclusive prerogative.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most truthful word spoken by a poet is the statement of Labid: 'Indeed, everything besides Allah is false' (Sahih Bukhari 3838). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding intercession (shafa'ah) on the Day of Judgment demonstrates that intercession occurs only by Allah's permission, directly supporting this ayah's message.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that their ultimate reliance must be on Allah alone, not on intermediaries or false deities, and that their final accountability rests with Him. This ayah encourages complete trust in Allah's mercy and His exclusive right to grant intercession, fostering sincere devotion and rejection of spiritual innovation (bid'ah) in Islamic practice.