سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ 1
Translations
Whatever is in the heavens and earth exalts Allāh, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Transliteration
Sabbaha lillahi ma fi as-samawati wal-ard, wa huwa al-Azizu al-Hakim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah of Surah Al-Hadid declares that all creation in the heavens and earth glorifies and praises Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala). According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, every creature—whether visible or invisible—testifies to Allah's oneness through its existence and functionality. The ayah emphasizes that Allah is Al-Azeez (the Mighty, the Invincible) and Al-Hakeem (the All-Wise), indicating that this universal glorification occurs under His perfect knowledge and irresistible power.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Medina during the later Islamic period and addresses believers during times of conflict and social upheaval. The opening ayah sets a foundational theme for the surah: reminding Muslims of Allah's absolute sovereignty and the transient nature of worldly life, encouraging them to prioritize the Hereafter and spend in Allah's cause.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need, and the best knowledge is that which benefits,' which relates to the surah's emphasis on spending and prioritizing eternal values. Additionally, Surah As-Sajdah (32:15) and similar ayahs about creation glorifying Allah reinforce this theme throughout the Quran.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to recognize that all of creation naturally submits to and glorifies Allah, encouraging us to consciously align our actions and hearts with this universal truth. It reminds us that in the presence of Allah's infinite power and wisdom, our worldly concerns should be diminished, and our focus should be on spiritual growth and obedience.
Related Ayahs
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you wherever you are. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.
ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْىِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Know that Allāh gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. We have made clear to you the signs; perhaps you will understand.
ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَـٰدِ ۖ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَعْجَبَ ٱلْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَـٰمًا ۖ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ ۚ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ
Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allāh and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.
سَابِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
Race [i.e., compete] toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allāh and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allāh which He gives to whom He wills, and Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.