أَلَآ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 55
Translations
Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. Unquestionably, the promise of Allāh is truth, but most of them do not know.
Transliteration
Alā inna lillāhi mā fī as-samāwāti wa-al-arḍ. Alā inna wa'd Allāhi haqq wa-lākinna aktharahu lā yaʿlamūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes Allah's absolute sovereignty and ownership of all creation in the heavens and earth, affirming that His promise of the Day of Judgment and reward/punishment is certainly true. However, the majority of people remain in ignorance of this fundamental reality, lacking true knowledge (ʿilm) of Allah's attributes and the certainty of His promise. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this verse serves to console the believers during persecution and remind them of Allah's ultimate authority, while the lack of knowledge ('lā yaʿlamūn') refers to the disbelievers' spiritual blindness and rejection of divine truth despite clear signs.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Yunus, which was revealed during a time of intense opposition to the Prophet Muhammad from the Quraysh. The broader context of the surah addresses the rejection of the message and the certainty of Allah's promise, serving to strengthen the believers' conviction during persecution and the apparent delay of divine judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of knowledge is knowing Allah (Taʿallum maʿrifat Allah)' - emphasizing the importance of knowing Allah's attributes and promises, which relates to the ayah's reference to ignorance. Additionally, in Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet emphasized that belief in the Last Day (which fulfills Allah's promise) is a fundamental pillar of faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to ground their confidence in Allah's absolute control and the inevitability of His promises, particularly regarding accountability in the Hereafter, regardless of worldly opposition or the majority's disbelief. It encourages seeking true knowledge of Allah and His signs as an antidote to the spiritual ignorance that prevents people from recognizing these fundamental truths.