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
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ وَٱلنُّورَ ۖ ثُمَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, who created the heavens and the earth and made the darkness and the light. Then those who disbelieve equate [others] with their Lord.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُو۟لِىٓ أَجْنِحَةٍ مَّثْنَىٰ وَثُلَـٰثَ وَرُبَـٰعَ ۚ يَزِيدُ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Creator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allāh," and then remained on a right course - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ رِزْقًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
And they worship besides Allāh that which does not possess for them [the power of] provision from the heavens and the earth at all, and [in fact], they are unable.