إِنَّ إِلَيْنَآ إِيَابَهُمْ 25
Translations
Indeed, to Us is their return.
Transliteration
Inna ilaina iyabahum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that all human beings will ultimately return to Allah for judgment and accountability. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'iyabahum' (their return) as referring to the resurrection and the final reckoning, emphasizing that despite human arrogance and heedlessness in this life, none can escape the divine judgment. The ayah serves as a powerful reminder of mankind's ultimate destination and Allah's complete sovereignty over all affairs.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ghashiyah is a Meccan surah that emphasizes the reality of the Day of Judgment and divine accountability. This particular ayah comes near the conclusion of the surah and reinforces the central theme that regardless of people's state in this world (whether in comfort or hardship), their final return is inevitably to Allah for judgment, providing comfort to believers and warning to disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'All of you will be gathered barefooted, naked, and uncircumcised before Allah' (Sahih Bukhari 3340), which relates to the certainty of return to Allah. Additionally, the Quran states in Surah At-Tariq (86:8): 'The Day when secrets will be tested' (Sahih Muslim), reinforcing themes of final accountability.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah encourages believers to recognize that all worldly pursuits and distractions are temporary, and that the ultimate purpose of life is accountability before Allah. It serves as a spiritual motivator to live with consciousness of divine judgment (taqwa) and to prioritize eternal consequences over temporary worldly gains.
Related Ayahs
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ ٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُۥ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allāh is Christ, the son of Mary. Say, "Then who could prevent Allāh at all if He had intended to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?" And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent.
وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ
And you will not cause failure [to Allāh] upon the earth or in the heaven. And you have not other than Allāh any protector or any helper.
قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ ۚ إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
Say, "I possess not for myself any harm or benefit except what Allāh should will. For every nation is a [specified] term. When their time has come, then they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it]."
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
While Allāh created you and that which you do?"