سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ ٱلْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ 180
Translations
Exalted is your Lord, the Lord of might, above what they describe.
Transliteration
Subhana rabbika rabbi al-izzati amma yasfun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is a declaration of Allah's absolute transcendence and glorification, asserting that the Lord of Might and Power is far beyond the false descriptions and attributes that the disbelievers ascribe to Him. Ibn Kathir explains that this verse refutes the polytheists' blasphemous claims about Allah—such as attributing partners to Him, describing Him with human characteristics, or denying His attributes—by emphasizing His complete exaltation above all imperfections and falsehoods. Al-Qurtubi notes that 'Rabb al-Izzah' (Lord of Might/Grandeur) underscores Allah's perfect power and dominion, making it impossible for Him to be limited by human comprehension or corrupted by false descriptions.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes Surah As-Saffat, which is primarily Meccan and addresses the early Muslims' struggle against polytheistic beliefs. It serves as a powerful closing statement to the entire surah, which contains numerous refutations of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and affirmations of Divine oneness, particularly through stories of the prophets who called people to pure monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah in worship.' (Sahih Bukhari 2654). Additionally, 'Whoever says Subhan'Allah wa bihamdihi (Glorified is Allah and praised be He) one hundred times a day, his sins will be wiped away even if they are like the foam of the sea.' (Sahih Bukhari 7237) reflects the importance of glorifying Allah as expressed in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to constantly affirm Allah's absolute transcendence and to guard their understanding of Him from false beliefs and corrupted descriptions. It is a reminder that our limited human understanding can never fully comprehend the Divine, and that we must purify our faith from all forms of shirk and innovation in religion.
Related Ayahs
أَفَغَيْرَ دِينِ ٱللَّهِ يَبْغُونَ وَلَهُۥٓ أَسْلَمَ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ
So is it other than the religion of Allāh they desire, while to Him have submitted [all] those within the heavens and earth, willingly or by compulsion, and to Him they will be returned?
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ هَلْ مِنْ خَـٰلِقٍ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ
O mankind, remember the favor of Allāh upon you. Is there any creator other than Allāh who provides for you from the heaven and earth? There is no deity except Him, so how are you deluded?
وَهُوَ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ فِى ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
And He is Allāh; there is no deity except Him. To Him is [due all] praise in the first [life] and the Hereafter. And His is the [final] decision, and to Him you will be returned.
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ ۖ مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, your Lord is Allāh, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne, arranging the matter [of His creation]. There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allāh, your Lord, so worship Him. Then will you not remember?