لِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌۢ 120
Translations
To Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is within them. And He is over all things competent.
Transliteration
Lillahi mulku as-samawati wa-al-ardi wa ma fihinna wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah alone possesses absolute sovereignty over the heavens and earth and everything within them, emphasizing His complete dominion and power over all creation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this as a powerful declaration of tawhid (monotheism), establishing that all dominion belongs exclusively to Allah and that He has absolute power (qudrah) over all things, leaving no room for partners in His authority.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes Surah Al-Ma'idah and serves as a thematic closure to the surah's discussions on divine legislation, judgment, and the authority of Allah. It encapsulates the central message of the surah by reasserting Allah's ultimate sovereignty as the final word on all matters of law and creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest ayah in the Qur'an is Ayat al-Kursi' (Surah 2:255), which similarly emphasizes Allah's all-encompassing knowledge and power. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the seventy thousand veils between Allah and creation reinforces the concept of divine transcendence and absolute power.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that all worldly authority and power are ultimately derived from and subordinate to Allah's supreme dominion, encouraging complete trust in His wisdom and justice. It serves as a reminder to submit wholeheartedly to Allah's commands and to refrain from placing trust in created beings, as true power and sovereignty belong to Allah alone.
Related Ayahs
إِنِّىٓ أُرِيدُ أَن تَبُوٓأَ بِإِثْمِى وَإِثْمِكَ فَتَكُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلنَّارِ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Indeed, I want you to obtain [thereby] my sin and your sin so you will be among the companions of the Fire. And that is the recompense of wrongdoers."
أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ يُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Do you not know that to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth? He punishes whom He wills and forgives whom He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent.
وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَٱحْذَرُوا۟ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا عَلَىٰ رَسُولِنَا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
And obey Allāh and obey the Messenger and beware. And if you turn away - then know that upon Our Messenger is only [the responsibility for] clear notification.
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لَآ أَمْلِكُ إِلَّا نَفْسِى وَأَخِى ۖ فَٱفْرُقْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
[Moses] said, "My Lord, indeed I do not possess [i.e., control] except myself and my brother, so part us from the defiantly disobedient people."