قُلْ هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ 29
Translations
Say, "He is the Most Merciful; we have believed in Him, and upon Him we have relied. And you will [come to] know who it is that is in clear error."
Transliteration
Qul huwa ar-Rahman amannā bihi wa 'alayhi tawakkalnā fa-sataclamūn man huwa fī dhalālin mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that Allah is ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful), and that the believers have faith in Him and rely upon Him alone. Ibn Kathir notes this is a powerful assertion of monotheism in response to the disbelievers' rejection, warning them that they will soon know who is truly in clear error—themselves. Al-Tabari emphasizes that this statement combines affirmation of Allah's attributes (His mercy) with complete trust (tawakkul) as the foundation of faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the conclusion of Surah Al-Mulk, a Meccan chapter focused on Allah's sovereignty and creation. The context addresses the pagans' rejection of the Qur'an and the Prophet's message. The ayah serves as a decisive response to their stubbornness, affirming the believers' conviction and warning of the consequences of disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever says Lā ilāha illā Allāh wholeheartedly enters Paradise' (Sahih Muslim 49). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'The best of reliance upon Allah is to trust in Him completely' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2344), reflecting the tawakkul mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to anchor their faith in Allah's mercy and to cultivate unwavering trust in Him despite opposition, knowing that ultimate vindication belongs to those who believe. For modern readers, it emphasizes that true strength comes not from worldly power or majority opinion, but from sincere faith and reliance upon the All-Merciful.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى قَدْ جَآءَنِى مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ مَا لَمْ يَأْتِكَ فَٱتَّبِعْنِىٓ أَهْدِكَ صِرَٰطًا سَوِيًّا
O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and to Him belongs [all] praise in the Hereafter. And He is the Wise, the Aware.
قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ عَـٰلِمَ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ أَنتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِى مَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
Say, "O Allāh, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, You will judge between your servants concerning that over which they used to differ."
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَقُولُوا۟ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], "Do not worship except Allāh; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakāh." Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.