ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ 2
Translations
Allāh, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And woe [i.e., destruction] to the disbelievers from a severe punishment -
Transliteration
Allahu alladhi lahu ma fi as-samawati wa ma fi al-ard. Wa waylun lil-kafirina min adhab shadid.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares the absolute ownership and sovereignty of Allah over all that exists in the heavens and earth, emphasizing His complete control and dominion. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement serves as a powerful assertion of tawhid (monotheism) against polytheism, followed immediately by a stern warning of severe punishment for those who reject this fundamental truth. The juxtaposition of divine majesty with the threat of punishment is designed to motivate reflection and submission to Allah's lordship.
Revelation Context
Surah Ibrahim is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when the polytheists of Mecca were actively resisting the Prophet's message. This ayah comes at the beginning of the surah and sets the theological foundation by establishing Allah's absolute sovereignty, which serves as the rational basis for rejecting idolatry and accepting monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3191) where the Prophet ﷺ said, 'The most perfect believer in faith is the one who is best in manners' relates to comprehending Allah's sovereignty leading to proper conduct. Additionally, the hadith about the greatness of Allah's creation (Muslim 2794) complements this ayah's emphasis on Allah's dominion over all creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that recognizing Allah's absolute ownership and control over all existence should naturally lead us to worship Him alone and obey His commands, while also serving as a reminder that those who reject this fundamental truth face severe consequences both in this life and the Hereafter.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنْ أَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَذَكِّرْهُم بِأَيَّىٰمِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ
And We certainly sent Moses with Our signs, [saying], "Bring out your people from darknesses into the light and remind them of the days of Allāh." Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.
قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِن نَّحْنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نَّأْتِيَكُم بِسُلْطَـٰنٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Their messengers said to them, "We are only men like you, but Allāh confers favor upon whom He wills of His servants. It has never been for us to bring you evidence except by permission of Allāh. And upon Allāh let the believers rely.
رَّبَّنَآ إِنِّىٓ أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِى بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِى زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ ٱلْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱجْعَلْ أَفْـِٔدَةً مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَهْوِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ وَٱرْزُقْهُم مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ
Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.
الٓر ۚ كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ
Alif, Lām, Rā. [This is] a Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], that you might bring mankind out of darknesses into the light by permission of their Lord - to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy -