قُل لِّمَن مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قُل لِّلَّهِ ۚ كَتَبَ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ 12
Translations
Say, "To whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth?" Say, "To Allāh." He has decreed upon Himself mercy. He will surely assemble you for the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. Those who will lose themselves [that Day] do not believe.
Transliteration
Qul liman ma fi as-samawati wa-l-ardi qul lillah kataba ala nafsihi ar-rahmah layajma'annakum ila yawmi al-qiyamah la rayba fih alladhina hasiru anfusahum fahum la yu'minun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the fundamental Islamic principle of Allah's absolute ownership of all creation and His self-imposed attribute of mercy. The ayah affirms that despite the polytheists' claims of ownership through idols, everything in the heavens and earth belongs exclusively to Allah, and He has decreed upon Himself mercy—which will culminate in the gathering of all humanity on the Day of Judgment without doubt. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that this directly refutes the Meccan polytheists' attribution of ownership and blessing to their idols, while emphasizing both divine omnipotence and mercy as foundational to Islamic monotheism.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the early Meccan period of Surah Al-An'am, which addresses the fundamental tenets of tawhid (Islamic monotheism) in response to the Meccan polytheists' denial and their claims that their idols possessed independent powers. The context reflects the early Islamic preaching against shirk (polytheism) and the establishment of absolute divine sovereignty.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'My mercy encompasses all things' (Quran 7:156), which directly relates to Allah's self-imposed mercy mentioned here. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, there is a hadith about the 99 names of Allah where 'Ar-Rahman' (The Merciful) is emphasized as encompassing divine compassion, reinforcing this ayah's emphasis on mercy.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true security and sustenance come from recognizing Allah's exclusive sovereignty and His merciful nature, not from the false idols or limited powers people create or worship. For modern Muslims, it reinforces that regardless of worldly uncertainties, we should trust in Allah's ordained mercy and prepare for accountability on the Day of Judgment through righteous conduct and sincere faith.