إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَرِثُ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَنْ عَلَيْهَا وَإِلَيْنَا يُرْجَعُونَ 40
Translations
Indeed, it is We who will inherit the earth and whoever is on it, and to Us they will be returned.
Transliteration
Inna nahnu narith al-arda wa-man alayha wa-ilaina yurja'un
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's ultimate ownership and control over all creation—the earth and everyone upon it belong to Him alone, and all will return to Him for judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this as a consolation to the Prophet and believers that despite the arrogance of disbelievers, Allah's dominion is absolute and eternal, and He will inherit the earth after all creatures perish. The ayah serves as a powerful reminder of divine sovereignty and the certainty of the Day of Judgment, when all souls will be brought back to their Creator.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Maryam, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes monotheism and Allah's power. It comes within a section addressing the arrogance and disbelief of the Meccan polytheists, reminding them that their worldly possessions and pride are temporary, while Allah's dominion is eternal and unchanging.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi). This complements the surah's theme of recognizing true value—not in worldly possession but in righteousness. Additionally, the hadith about the Day of Judgment in Sahih Bukhari emphasizes that 'all will return to Allah' as stated in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to detach from excessive attachment to worldly possessions and status, recognizing that all belongs to Allah and will ultimately be inherited by Him. It encourages humility and accountability, reminding us that our true priority should be preparing for the inevitable return to our Creator through righteous deeds.