إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ ۖ مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ 3
Translations
Indeed, your Lord is Allāh, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne, arranging the matter [of His creation]. There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allāh, your Lord, so worship Him. Then will you not remember?
Transliteration
Inna rabbakumu allahu allazi khalaqa alssamawati waalarda fi sittati ayyamin thumma istawa ala alAAarshi yudabbiru alamra ma min shafeeAAin illa min baAAdi iznihi dhalikumu allahu rabbukum faAAbudooh afala tathakkarun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the fundamental Islamic doctrine of Tawhid (Divine Oneness) by affirming that Allah alone is the Lord who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself upon the Throne, from which He governs all affairs. The phrase 'istawa ala al-arsh' (established upon the Throne) affirms Allah's supreme authority and dominion, while the statement about intercession emphasizes His absolute sovereignty—no one can intercede except by His permission. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this ayah comprehensively addresses the attributes of Allah's creative power, authority, and the futility of associating partners with Him.
Revelation Context
Surah Yunus is a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced rejection from the Quraysh. This ayah appears early in the surah as a powerful response to polytheistic beliefs, establishing monotheistic principles before addressing the disbelievers' objections and historical narratives of past prophets.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3191) and Sahih Muslim (2794) where the Prophet said, 'The closest anyone of you can be to their Lord is during the middle of the night, so if you can be among those who remember Allah at that time, then do so,' relates to the concept of Allah's closeness despite His transcendence mentioned in this ayah. Additionally, the hadith about the seven whom Allah will shade on the Day of Judgment illustrates the concept that intercession depends on Allah's permission.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that recognizing Allah as the sole Creator, Manager of all affairs, and ultimate authority should naturally lead to exclusive worship and servitude to Him. In our modern age of divided loyalties and competing authorities, this ayah calls us to return our hearts entirely to Allah, understanding that true security and guidance come only through remembering His absolute power and submitting to His will.
Related Ayahs
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ ٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُۥ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allāh is Christ, the son of Mary. Say, "Then who could prevent Allāh at all if He had intended to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?" And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent.
وَهُوَ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ فِى ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
And He is Allāh; there is no deity except Him. To Him is [due all] praise in the first [life] and the Hereafter. And His is the [final] decision, and to Him you will be returned.
وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ
And in yourselves. Then will you not see?
لَقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبَّكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
They have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allāh is the Messiah, the son of Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allāh, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allāh - Allāh has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.