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
وَٱلَّذِى يُمِيتُنِى ثُمَّ يُحْيِينِ
And who will cause me to die and then bring me to life
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِٱلْحَقِّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ ۚ وَإِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
O mankind, the Messenger has come to you with the truth from your Lord, so believe; it is better for you. But if you disbelieve - then indeed, to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. And ever is Allāh Knowing and Wise.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you wherever you are. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.
وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُۥ ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ
And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits. [And those wait] until, when terror is removed from their hearts, they will say [to one another], "What has your Lord said?" They will say, "The truth." And He is the Most High, the Grand.