وَلَهُ ٱلْكِبْرِيَآءُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ 37
Translations
And to Him belongs [all] grandeur within the heavens and the earth, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Transliteration
Wa lahu al-kibriyaa' fi as-samawati wa al-ard, wa huwa al-aziz al-hakim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that all greatness, majesty, and sovereignty belong exclusively to Allah in the heavens and on earth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that 'al-kibriyaa' (supremacy/majesty) encompasses Allah's absolute power, dominion, and might over creation. The ayah concludes by emphasizing two of Allah's essential attributes—Al-Aziz (The Mighty/Invincible) and Al-Hakim (The All-Wise)—indicating that His greatness is coupled with perfect wisdom and justice.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Jathiyah addresses those who stubbornly reject divine guidance despite clear signs. This particular ayah appears near the end of the surah (verse 37 of 37) and serves as a powerful conclusion, reminding the disbelievers that regardless of their arrogance, all magnificence and authority ultimately belong to Allah alone. The thematic context emphasizes humbling oneself before divine sovereignty after discussing human stubbornness and rejection of truth.
Related Hadiths
Related thematically to the hadith in Sahih Muslim wherein the Prophet ﷺ said: 'The greatest ayah in the Qur'an is Ayat al-Kursi (2:255),' which similarly emphasizes Allah's complete sovereignty and knowledge. Also relates to the hadith in Jami' at-Tirmidhi: 'Whoever is humble for the sake of Allah, Allah will exalt him.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that true greatness belongs only to Allah, serving as a spiritual antidote to pride and arrogance in our lives. It reminds us that submitting to Allah's sovereignty with humility is the path to wisdom and strength, not weakness.
Related Ayahs
يَسْمَعُ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يُصِرُّ مُسْتَكْبِرًا كَأَن لَّمْ يَسْمَعْهَا ۖ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
Who hears the verses of Allāh recited to him, then persists arrogantly as if he had not heard them. So give him tidings of a painful punishment.
وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ مَّا كَانَ حُجَّتَهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ ٱئْتُوا۟ بِـَٔابَآئِنَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, their argument is only that they say, "Bring [back] our forefathers, if you should be truthful."
وَقِيلَ ٱلْيَوْمَ نَنسَىٰكُمْ كَمَا نَسِيتُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـٰذَا وَمَأْوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ
And it will be said, "Today We will forget you as you forgot the meeting of this Day of yours, and your refuge is the Fire, and for you there are no helpers.
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مِّنْهُ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And He has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth - all from Him. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.