وَلَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ ٱلدِّينُ وَاصِبًا ۚ أَفَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ تَتَّقُونَ 52
Translations
And to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and to Him is [due] worship constantly. Then is it other than Allāh that you fear?
Transliteration
Wa lahu ma fi as-samawati wa al-ardi wa lahu ad-dinu wasiba. Afa ghayra Allahi tattaqun?
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute ownership and sovereignty over all that exists in the heavens and the earth, and that all worship and obedience (ad-din) belongs to Him alone, permanently and necessarily. The rhetorical question at the end—'Then is it other than Allah that you fear?'—serves as a powerful rebuke to the Meccan polytheists, challenging them to recognize the logical absurdity of fearing and obeying created beings while denying the worship of their Creator. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'wasiba' (permanently/necessarily) stresses the perpetual nature of Allah's right to exclusive obedience.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah An-Nahl, which addresses the fundamental concepts of Tawhid (monotheism) in response to the idolatry and polytheism of pre-Islamic Mecca. The surah systematically refutes polytheism by presenting evidence of Allah's oneness through His creation and blessings.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever dies believing that there is a partner with Allah will enter the Fire.' (Sahih Muslim 93). Additionally, the ayah relates to the hadith about the seven whom Allah will shade on the Day of Judgment, including 'a young man who grew up in the worship of Allah' (Sahih Bukhari 629), illustrating exclusive devotion to Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true piety and fear should be directed exclusively toward Allah, the sole Owner and Sustainer of all creation, and that directing reverence or obedience to anyone or anything besides Him contradicts the logical recognition of His absolute power. For modern Muslims, it serves as a reminder to examine their priorities and loyalties, ensuring that worldly fears and concerns do not override their commitment to Allah's obedience.
Related Ayahs
فَنَظَرَ نَظْرَةً فِى ٱلنُّجُومِ
And he cast a look at the stars.
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا
Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."
شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمِ قَآئِمًۢا بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Allāh witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ تَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
He created the heavens and earth in truth. High is He above what they associate with Him.