وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ 109
Translations
To Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And to Allāh will [all] matters be returned.
Transliteration
Wa lillahi ma fi as-samawati wa ma fi al-ard. Wa ila Allah turja'u al-umur.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute ownership and dominion over everything in the heavens and on earth, and that all matters ultimately return to Him for judgment and decision. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a foundational principle of Islamic theology, asserting that all creation belongs exclusively to Allah, and every affair—whether cosmic or human—is ultimately subject to His will and wisdom. Al-Qurtubi notes that this ayah serves as a consolation to believers that despite worldly trials, ultimate authority and justice rest with Allah alone.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan period within Surah Ali 'Imran, a chapter that emphasizes monotheism and addresses disputes with People of the Book. The broader context (3:109-110) discusses Allah's sovereignty and the ummah's responsibility as witnesses to truth, reflecting the early Muslim community's need to anchor their faith in Allah's absolute authority amid religious and political challenges.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah, for Allah says, "To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth"' (referenced in various tafsir works). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the Day of Judgment emphasizes that all matters return to Allah: 'On the Day of Resurrection, the earth will shine with the light of its Lord.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that true power and ownership belong only to Allah, which should free us from anxiety about worldly possessions and conflicts—knowing that all matters ultimately rest in the hands of the All-Wise. It is a call to surrender our affairs to Allah and trust in His judgment, fostering spiritual humility and detachment from material preoccupations.
Related Ayahs
ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْمُنفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِٱلْأَسْحَارِ
The patient, the true, the obedient, those who spend [in the way of Allāh], and those who seek forgiveness before dawn.
قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَـٰلِكَ ٱلْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِى ٱلْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Say, "O Allāh, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.
يَـٰمَرْيَمُ ٱقْنُتِى لِرَبِّكِ وَٱسْجُدِى وَٱرْكَعِى مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ
O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow [in prayer]."
يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
They believe in Allāh and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and hasten to good deeds. And those are among the righteous.