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
وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا۟ فَـٰحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allāh and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allāh? - and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know.
إِذْ هَمَّت طَّآئِفَتَانِ مِنكُمْ أَن تَفْشَلَا وَٱللَّهُ وَلِيُّهُمَا ۗ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
When two parties among you were about to lose courage, but Allāh was their ally; and upon Allāh the believers should rely.
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِىَ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ
He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?" He [the angel] said, "Such is Allāh; He does what He wills."
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Bakkah [i.e., Makkah] - blessed and a guidance for the worlds.