وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 189
Translations
And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allāh is over all things competent.
Transliteration
Wa lillahi mulku as-samawati wa al-ardi wa allahu ala kulli shay'in qadīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms the absolute sovereignty and ownership of Allah over all creation—the heavens and the earth—and establishes His complete power over all things. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this declaration negates any autonomy or ultimate authority apart from Allah, serving as a foundational principle for Islamic monotheism (tawhid) and submission to divine will.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of divine attributes and the relationship between Allah and creation. It follows verses addressing trials and blessings, reinforcing that all temporal authority and material possessions ultimately belong to Allah alone, not to human rulers or the wealthy.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best supplication is: Allahumma anta rabbī, lā ilāha illā anta' (O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship but You) - a hadith from Jami' at-Tirmidhi that echoes the recognition of Allah's unique sovereignty.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that worldly possessions and positions of authority are temporary trusts from Allah, not permanent possessions, which should inspire gratitude, humility, and just stewardship. It also provides comfort in times of hardship by reminding us that all affairs ultimately rest in the hands of the All-Powerful, encouraging reliance on Allah (tawakkul) rather than fear of created beings.
Related Ayahs
۞ لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ أَذًى كَثِيرًا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ
You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allāh much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allāh - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of resolve.
وَكَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ وَأَنتُمْ تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱللَّهِ وَفِيكُمْ رَسُولُهُۥ ۗ وَمَن يَعْتَصِم بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ هُدِىَ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And how could you disbelieve while to you are being recited the verses of Allāh and among you is His Messenger? And whoever holds firmly to Allāh has [indeed] been guided to a straight path.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ لَن تَمَسَّنَا ٱلنَّارُ إِلَّآ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍ ۖ وَغَرَّهُمْ فِى دِينِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
That is because they say, "Never will the Fire touch us except for [a few] numbered days," and [because] they were deluded in their religion by what they were inventing.
وَدَّت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَوْ يُضِلُّونَكُمْ وَمَا يُضِلُّونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
A faction of the People of the Scripture wish they could mislead you. But they do not mislead except themselves, and they perceive [it] not.