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
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِي۟ن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ ٱنقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَـٰبِكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَنقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًٔا ۗ وَسَيَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
Muḥammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allāh at all; but Allāh will reward the grateful.
قُلْ صَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ فَٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, "Allāh has told the truth. So follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of the polytheists."
بَلَىٰٓ ۚ إِن تَصْبِرُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ وَيَأْتُوكُم مِّن فَوْرِهِمْ هَـٰذَا يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِخَمْسَةِ ءَالَـٰفٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ
Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allāh and they [i.e., the enemy] come upon you [attacking] in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction]."
إِنَّ أَوْلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِإِبْرَٰهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَـٰذَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Indeed, the most worthy of Abraham among the people are those who followed him [in submission to Allāh] and this prophet [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] and those who believe [in his message]. And Allāh is the Ally of the believers.