أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْوَهَّابِ 9
Translations
Or do they have the depositories of the mercy of your Lord, the Exalted in Might, the Bestower?
Transliteration
Am indahum khaza'inu rahmatirabbika al-azeezi al-wahhab
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question to the polytheists of Mecca, asking whether they possess the treasuries of your Lord's mercy—emphasizing that provision, guidance, and blessings are exclusively in Allah's control, not in the hands of false deities or idols. Ibn Kathir explains that this refutes the pagan Arabs' attribution of intercession and divine qualities to their idols, while Al-Qurtubi notes that the two divine names mentioned—'Al-Azeez' (The Mighty) and 'Al-Wahhab' (The Bestower)—underscore that only Allah possesses absolute power and generosity to grant mercy.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Sad's refutation of polytheism and the rejection of the Quran by Meccan disbelievers. It is part of a series of rhetorical questions designed to challenge the logical consistency of idolatry and to remind the audience that ultimate authority and provision belong solely to Allah, not to created beings or fabricated deities.
Related Hadiths
Hadith from Sahih Bukhari (Book of Tawheed) where the Prophet ﷺ said: 'The most virtuous names belong to Allah, so supplicate Him by them' (a thematic connection to Allah's divine attributes mentioned here). Additionally, a related concept appears in Muslim's Sahih regarding Allah's absolute sovereignty over provision and mercy.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true reliance and supplication must be directed exclusively to Allah alone, as He alone controls all blessings, mercy, and sustenance, and that attributing any share of divine authority to created beings is logically absurd and spiritually destructive. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder to place complete trust in Allah's generosity and to reject any form of spiritual or material dependence on other than Him.
Related Ayahs
لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death. [He is] your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers.
هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱدْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ ۗ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
He is the Ever-Living; there is no deity except Him, so call upon Him, [being] sincere to Him in religion. [All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرًۢا بَصِيرًا
Indeed, your Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is ever, concerning His servants, Aware and Seeing.
لَهُۥ مَقَالِيدُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. He extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is, of all things, Knowing.