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
رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ
My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.
۞ قَالَتْ رُسُلُهُمْ أَفِى ٱللَّهِ شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَـٰنٍ مُّبِينٍ
Their messengers said, "Can there be doubt about Allāh, Creator of the heavens and earth? He invites you that He may forgive you of your sins, and He delays you [i.e., your death] for a specified term." They said, "You are not but men like us who wish to avert us from what our fathers were worshipping. So bring us a clear authority [i.e., evidence]."
وَأَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَخِّرْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُّجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ ٱلرُّسُلَ ۗ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍ
And, [O Muḥammad], warn the people of a Day when the punishment will come to them and those who did wrong will say, "Our Lord, delay us for a short term; we will answer Your call and follow the messengers." [But it will be said], "Had you not sworn, before, that for you there would be no cessation?
رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ
Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established."