سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ

Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 26

The Family of Imraan · Medinan · Juz 3 · Page 53

قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَـٰلِكَ ٱلْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِى ٱلْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿26﴾
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "O Allâh! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do all things.
قُلِ quli Say
ٱللَّهُمَّ l-lahuma O Allah
مَـٰلِكَ mālika Owner
ٱلْمُلْكِ l-mul'ki (of) the Dominion
تُؤْتِى tu'tī You give
ٱلْمُلْكَ l-mul'ka the dominion
مَن man (to) whom
تَشَآءُ tashāu You will
وَتَنزِعُ watanziʿu and You take away
ٱلْمُلْكَ l-mul'ka the dominion
مِمَّن mimman from whom
تَشَآءُ tashāu You will
وَتُعِزُّ watuʿizzu and You honor
مَن man whom
تَشَآءُ tashāu You will
وَتُذِلُّ watudhillu and You humiliate
مَن man whom
تَشَآءُ ۖ tashāu You will
بِيَدِكَ biyadika In Your hand
ٱلْخَيْرُ ۖ l-khayru (is all) the good
إِنَّكَ innaka Indeed, You
عَلَىٰ ʿalā (are) on
كُلِّ kulli every
شَىْءٍۢ shayin thing
قَدِيرٌۭ qadīrun All-Powerful

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 26) ➊ {قُلِ اللّٰهُمَّ مٰلِكَ الْمُلْكِ:} Sibawayh and Khalil said that { ”اللّٰهُمَّ“ } was originally { ”يَااللّٰهُ“ }, at the beginning the "ya" was omitted, so a meem with a shaddah was added at the end. Even before { ”مٰلِكَ الْمُلْكِ“ }, the "ya" is hidden, therefore the word { ”مٰلِكَ“ } is in the accusative case. (Shawkani) Thus, in this supplication, it is taught to supplicate to Allah using both His personal and attributive names.

➋ The Jews were under the misconception that the chain of authority and prophethood would always remain with them, and that no other nation had the right to it. But when the Last Prophet, peace be upon him, was sent from an unlettered nation, the descendants of Ismail, their rage and envy knew no bounds. Allah Almighty removed their misunderstanding by stating that Allah is the One with will and the Owner of all sovereignty. He grants honor and rule in this world to whichever nation He wills. Therefore, for prophethood, which is a very great honor, Allah Almighty chose whomever He willed. No one has the right to object to Allah. Here, in the form of a supplication, Muslims are also given glad tidings that you will gain dominance and authority in this world, and the sending of the Seal of the Prophets, peace be upon him, is a very great favor of Allah Almighty, so you should be grateful to Allah for this.

➌ In { ”الْخَيْرُ“ }, the alif-lam is for totality, and in {”بِيَدِكَ“}, by bringing the predicate first, specification is created, therefore the translation is "In Your hand alone is every good."

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

26. 1. In this verse, there is an expression of Allah’s immense power and might: He can make a king into a beggar, and a beggar into a king; He is the owner of all authority, meaning all goodness is only in Your hand. There is no one besides You who can grant goodness. Although the creator of evil is also Allah Ta'ala. However, only goodness is mentioned, not evil, because goodness is purely Allah’s grace, unlike evil, which is the recompense for a person’s own actions that reaches him, or because evil is also a part of His decree and destiny, which contains goodness within it. In this regard, all His actions are good. (فتح القدیر)

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

26. Say: O Allah! Owner of all sovereignty! You give dominion to whom You will, and You take it away from whom [30] You will. You honor whom You will, and You humble whom You will. All good is in Your hand. Surely, You have power over all things.

[30]
The Response to the Jews’ Taunt Against the Muslims:

Although the address in this verse is general, including the People of the Book, the polytheists of Arabia, and the Muslims, in terms of the context, it is especially directed towards the Jews and disbelievers who, at the time of the Battle of the Trench, were saying that these Muslims are in such a state that they are digging a trench for their own protection, have nothing to eat, nor any weapons of war, yet they dream of conquering Caesar and Chosroes—if this is not madness, then what is? The answer to this taunt of the Jews and disbelievers is given in this comprehensive supplication: that honor, disgrace, power, and everything else are in Allah’s control. There is nothing surprising in the fact that those who are rulers today may become subjugated tomorrow, and those who are emperors may become beggars, and those who are weak may become strong. Indeed, the Being who can bring forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living—why can He not make the powerful needy and the needy powerful?