رَبُّ ٱلْمَشْرِقَيْنِ وَرَبُّ ٱلْمَغْرِبَيْنِ 17
Translations
[He is] Lord of the two sunrises and Lord of the two sunsets.
Transliteration
Rabbu al-mashriqayn wa rabbu al-maghribayn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes Allah's absolute lordship and sovereignty over the entire universe by referring to Him as 'Lord of the two easts and Lord of the two wests.' Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as referring to the two points where the sun rises (at summer and winter solstices) and the two points where it sets, symbolizing Allah's dominion over all creation and all times. Some exegetes understand it more broadly as representing the east and west in their entirety, or the multiplicity of creation, highlighting that there is no place or time outside of Allah's authority and providence.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Rahman is a Medinan surah that comprehensively enumerates Allah's blessings and mercies to creation. This particular ayah appears in the opening passages where Allah emphasizes His divine attributes and supreme lordship, establishing the foundation for the surah's central theme of gratitude for divine bounties. The context is part of a series of affirmations of Allah's majesty and control over all creation.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific ayah, the theme relates to hadith Qudsi: 'My mercy encompasses all things' (Quran 7:156, hadith in Sahih Muslim), which reinforces Allah's universal dominion and compassion. Additionally, the concept connects to the Hadith about Allah's throne encompassing the heavens and earth (Sahih Bukhari and others).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's dominion transcends all geographical, temporal, and spatial boundaries—He alone is the Lord of all existence at all times. By reflecting on this cosmic scale of divine authority, Muslims are encouraged to place complete trust in Allah and recognize that all affairs of creation ultimately rest in His hands.