لَّهُۥ مَقَالِيدُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ 63
Translations
To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. And they who disbelieve in the verses of Allāh - it is those who are the losers.
Transliteration
Lahu maqalīdu as-samāwāti wa-al-ardi wa-alladhīna kafarū bi-āyāti Allāhi ulā'ika hum al-khāsirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah alone possesses the keys to the heavens and the earth, meaning complete sovereignty and control over all creation—nothing occurs except by His permission and knowledge. The second part warns that those who reject Allah's signs and deny His verses are the true losers, as they forfeit divine guidance and eternal reward. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that 'keys' (maqālīd) is a metaphor for absolute authority and dominion, similar to how keys grant access; thus denying Allah's signs means rejecting this undeniable reality of divine omnipotence.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zumar is a Meccan chapter addressing the polytheists and those who rejected monotheism. This ayah appears in the context of refuting idolatry and establishing tawhīd (divine oneness), emphasizing that only Allah governs the universe and deserves worship, while those clinging to false gods and rejecting His clear signs are destined for loss.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The keys of the unseen are five, which none knows but Allah' (Surah 6:59), affirming Allah's exclusive knowledge and control. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the concept of loss (khusrān) in the Hereafter is illustrated when the Prophet described those who lose their deeds and gain only hellfire.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that Allah's complete control over all existence demands submission and obedience to His guidance, while those who arrogantly reject His clear signs—whether through reason, revelation, or creation—are gambling with their eternal salvation. This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that true success lies in affirming Allah's oneness and heeding His message, not in worldly pursuits or false beliefs.