إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۚ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ 116
Translations
Indeed, to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He gives life and causes death. And you have not besides Allāh any protector or any helper.
Transliteration
Inna Allaha lahu mulku as-samawati wa-al-ardi; yuhyi wa yumaitu wa ma lakum min duni Allahi min waliyyin wa la nasirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute sovereignty over the heavens and earth, His power over life and death, and emphasizes that no one can protect or help humanity except through Allah's will. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this declaration serves as a reminder of human dependence on Allah alone, particularly in context of the Hypocrites' false reliance on their wealth and allies during the Battle of Tabuk. The ayah establishes that all power, protection, and guardianship ultimately belong to Allah, negating any autonomous authority or assistance outside His domain.
Revelation Context
Surah At-Tawbah was revealed in the 9th year of Hijrah during the period of the Battle of Tabuk. This ayah appears in the context of addressing the Hypocrites (Munafiqun) who doubted Allah's promises and refused to participate in the military campaign, relying instead on their worldly possessions and political alliances. The ayah serves to remind the believers of Allah's supreme power and the futility of seeking help from any source other than Him.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever holds fast to Allah, he is guided to the right path' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim relates that the Prophet taught: 'There is no might and no power except with Allah' (La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah), which embodies the principle of reliance on Allah expressed in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true security and assistance come only from Allah, encouraging us to abandon reliance on worldly means, wealth, or human connections as ultimate sources of help. In modern life, it reminds us to maintain tawakkul (trust in Allah) while striving, rather than placing blind faith in material resources or political alliances.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ ۖ هَـٰذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ
The Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell and seared therewith will be their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, [it will be said], "This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard."
وَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
And let not their wealth and their children impress you. Allāh only intends to punish them through them in this world and that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers.
ٱنفِرُوا۟ خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَـٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allāh. That is better for you, if you only knew.
وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً وَلَا يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Nor do they spend an expenditure, small or large, or cross a valley but that it is registered for them that Allāh may reward them for the best of what they were doing.