ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ 2
Translations
Allāh, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And woe [i.e., destruction] to the disbelievers from a severe punishment -
Transliteration
Allahu alladhi lahu ma fi as-samawati wa ma fi al-ard. Wa waylun lil-kafirina min adhab shadid.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares the absolute ownership and sovereignty of Allah over all that exists in the heavens and earth, emphasizing His complete control and dominion. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement serves as a powerful assertion of tawhid (monotheism) against polytheism, followed immediately by a stern warning of severe punishment for those who reject this fundamental truth. The juxtaposition of divine majesty with the threat of punishment is designed to motivate reflection and submission to Allah's lordship.
Revelation Context
Surah Ibrahim is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when the polytheists of Mecca were actively resisting the Prophet's message. This ayah comes at the beginning of the surah and sets the theological foundation by establishing Allah's absolute sovereignty, which serves as the rational basis for rejecting idolatry and accepting monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3191) where the Prophet ﷺ said, 'The most perfect believer in faith is the one who is best in manners' relates to comprehending Allah's sovereignty leading to proper conduct. Additionally, the hadith about the greatness of Allah's creation (Muslim 2794) complements this ayah's emphasis on Allah's dominion over all creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that recognizing Allah's absolute ownership and control over all existence should naturally lead us to worship Him alone and obey His commands, while also serving as a reminder that those who reject this fundamental truth face severe consequences both in this life and the Hereafter.