Surah Ghafir (40) — Ayah 16

(Ayah 16) ➊ {يَوْمَ هُمْ بٰرِزُوْنَ …:} That is, all creation is always apparent before Allah Almighty; nothing is hidden from Him. Although in this world, some people, according to their own thinking, hide themselves in some place or cave, or in clothes, and think that they have hidden from Allah Almighty, as He said: « اَلَاۤ اِنَّهُمْ يَثْنُوْنَ صُدُوْرَهُمْ لِيَسْتَخْفُوْا مِنْهُ اَلَا حِيْنَ يَسْتَغْشُوْنَ ثِيَابَهُمْ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّوْنَ وَ مَا يُعْلِنُوْنَ اِنَّهٗ عَلِيْمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوْرِ» [ ھود : ۵ ] "Behold! Indeed, they fold up their breasts to hide from Him. Behold! When they cover themselves with their garments, He knows what they conceal and what they reveal. Surely, He is All-Knowing of what is in the breasts." But on the Day of Resurrection, there will be no cover on the earth in which they can hide; rather, all will be clearly exposed, as He said: « وَ يَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الْجِبَالِ فَقُلْ يَنْسِفُهَا رَبِّيْ نَسْفًا (105) فَيَذَرُهَا قَاعًا صَفْصَفًا (106) لَّا تَرٰى فِيْهَا عِوَجًا وَّ لَاۤ اَمْتًا » [ طٰہٰ : ۱۰۵ تا ۱۰۷ ] "And they ask you about the mountains, so say: My Lord will scatter them as dust. Then He will leave it a level plain. You will not see therein any crookedness or any elevation." On that day, there will not even be any clothing on anyone's body. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّكُمْ مُّلاَقُو اللّٰهِ حُفَاةً عُرَاةً مُشَاةً غُرْلاً ] [ بخاري، الرقاق، باب کیف الحشر : ۶۵۲۴ ] "You will meet Allah Almighty barefoot, naked, walking, and uncircumcised." See also Surah Ibrahim (21, 48) and Surah Al-Haqqah (13 to 18).

➋ { لِمَنِ الْمُلْكُ الْيَوْمَ :} That is, in the world, many people boasted of their kingship and greatness, and many people acknowledged their kingship and grandeur, but now tell me, today who is the Owner of all sovereignty? Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: [ يَقْبِضُ اللّٰهُ الْأَرْضَ، وَيَطْوِي السَّمٰوَاتِ بِيَمِيْنِهِ، ثُمَّ يَقُوْلُ أَنَا الْمَلِكُ، أَيْنَ مُلُوْكُ الْأَرْضِ؟ ] [ بخاري، التفسیر، باب قولہ : «والأرض جمیعًا قبضتہ…» : ۴۸۱۲ ] "Allah Almighty will grasp the earth in His fist and roll up the heavens in His right hand, then He will say: I am the King, where are the kings of the earth?"

➌ { لِلّٰهِ الْوَاحِدِ الْقَهَّارِ:} When there will be no one to answer, then Allah Almighty Himself will say this, as mentioned in the previous benefit in the hadith. Another explanation is that the verse refers to the time when all people will be clearly exposed in the plain of gathering, and nothing of theirs will be hidden from Allah; at that time, Allah Almighty will ask: « لِمَنِ الْمُلْكُ الْيَوْمَ » "To whom belongs the sovereignty today?" Obviously, at that time, all those gathered there will give this answer. The righteous will say it gladly, and the wicked will say it reluctantly, because there will be no other option. As for the hadith, it refers to the occasion when Allah Almighty will roll up the earth and the heavens and will say this. Thus, the declaration and acknowledgment of Allah Almighty's exclusive sovereignty will occur multiple times.

16. 1 That is, they will rise alive from their graves. 16. 1 On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will ask when all humans are gathered before Him in the plain of Mahshar. Allah will grasp the earth in His fist and wrap up the heavens in His right hand and will say, "I am the King. Where are the kings of the earth?" (Sahih Bukhari). 16. 1 When no one will speak, Allah Himself will give this answer. Some say that by Allah's command, an angel will make an announcement, and at that moment all disbelievers and Muslims will respond in unison with this answer. Fath al-Qadeer

The Day when they will all appear (before Allah), nothing about them will be hidden from Allah. (It will be asked:) "To whom does the dominion belong today [21]?" (Then it will be declared:) "To Allah alone, the One, the All-Dominant."

[21]
Allah the Exalted’s Address to the Kings of the World on the Day of Judgment:

On the Day of Judgment, there will come a time when everyone will be concerned only with themselves. All will be terrified by the horrors of the Day of Judgment; no one will have the opportunity or courage to speak. Complete silence and stillness will prevail everywhere. At that time, Allah Almighty will address everyone and ask: Where are the kings of the world today? Where are the tyrants and the arrogant ones? Speak! To whom does the sovereignty belong today? No one will answer this question. Even forty years will pass in such silence. After that, Allah Almighty Himself will answer this question: Today, sovereignty belongs only to Allah alone, Who has subdued everything.