قَالَ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ 24
Translations
[Moses] said, "The Lord of the heavens and earth and that between them, if you should be convinced."
Transliteration
Qala Rabbu as-samawati wa-al-ardi wa ma baynahuma in kuntum muqnineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Musa responds to Pharaoh's demand for identification by declaring that his Lord is the Lord of the heavens, the earth, and everything between them. This statement affirms the absolute sovereignty and oneness of Allah, implicitly rejecting Pharaoh's false claims to divinity. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that Musa's response is not merely theological but a direct challenge to Pharaoh's idolatry, presenting monotheism as the foundation of belief and certainty (yaqin).
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Musa's confrontation with Pharaoh, a central Meccan theme addressing the polytheists of Mecca. The surah uses the story of Musa as a parallel to the Prophet Muhammad's struggle against the Quraysh, encouraging believers to recognize and submit to the one true Lord despite opposition from those claiming power and authority.
Related Hadiths
Hadith Qudsi: 'I am as My servant expects of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me' (Sahih Bukhari 7405) - relates to the theme of certainty (yaqin) mentioned in the ayah. Also relevant: The hadith on Tawhid (monotheism) from Ibn Abbas regarding the verse's emphasis on Allah's lordship over all creation (Jami' at-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true conviction (yaqin) rests upon recognizing Allah's complete dominion over all creation, not merely intellectual assent. For modern readers, it emphasizes that authentic faith requires acknowledging Allah's lordship over every aspect of existence and rejecting all false authorities and idols that compete for human allegiance.
Related Ayahs
أَمَّن يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ وَمَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ قُلْ هَاتُوا۟ بُرْهَـٰنَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Is He [not best] who begins creation and then repeats it and who provides for you from the heaven and earth? Is there a deity with Allāh? Say, "Produce your proof, if you should be truthful."
تَدْعُونَنِى لِأَكْفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَأُشْرِكَ بِهِۦ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ وَأَنَا۠ أَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْغَفَّـٰرِ
You invite me to disbelieve in Allāh and associate with Him that of which I have no knowledge, and I invite you to the Exalted in Might, the Perpetual Forgiver.
۞ قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Say, "Do you indeed disbelieve in He who created the earth in two days and attribute to Him equals? That is the Lord of the worlds."
إِنَّمَآ أَمْرُهُۥٓ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيْـًٔا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is.