قُل لِّمَنِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ 84
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], "To whom belongs the earth and whoever is in it, if you should know?"
Transliteration
Qul liman al-ard wa man fiha in kuntum ta'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to pose a rhetorical question to the disbelievers, asking them who owns the earth and all that is upon it, if they truly possess knowledge. This ayah is a powerful refutation of shirk (polytheism) and a demonstration that only Allah possesses absolute dominion and ownership over creation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this question serves to lead the polytheists to acknowledge, through their own rational faculties, that Allah alone is the Creator and Master of all things, thereby exposing the irrationality of their associating partners with Him.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Mu'minun during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet's message. It is part of a series of rhetorical questions (ayat 84-89) designed to intellectually engage the disbelievers of Mecca and compel them to reflect on the oneness of Allah through logical reasoning about creation and sustenance.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific ayah, the concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said: 'The most complete believer in faith is the one whose character is best' and emphasized belief in Allah's absolute ownership. The theme of pondering creation as evidence of Allah's oneness is supported by various Quranic contexts and prophetic teachings on contemplation (tafakkur).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that true wisdom lies in recognizing Allah's exclusive dominion over all creation, and it serves as a timeless invitation to use reason and reflection to strengthen one's faith in Islamic Monotheism. For modern readers, it encourages introspection about where our allegiances and trust truly lie, challenging us to acknowledge Allah's sovereignty in every aspect of our lives.