سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 131
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ وَإِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا ﴿131﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And to Allâh belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And verily, We have recommended to the people of the Scripture before you, and to you (O Muslims) that you (all) fear Allâh, and keep your duty to Him. But if you disbelieve, then unto Allâh belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, and Allâh is Ever Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of all praise.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلِلَّهِ
walillahi
And for Allah
مَا
mā
(is) whatever
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَمَا
wamā
and whatever
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ
l-arḍi
the earth
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And surely
وَصَّيْنَا
waṣṣaynā
We have instructed
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
أُوتُوا۟
ūtū
were given
ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ
l-kitāba
the Book
مِن
min
from
قَبْلِكُمْ
qablikum
before you
وَإِيَّاكُمْ
wa-iyyākum
and yourselves
أَنِ
ani
that
ٱتَّقُوا۟
ittaqū
you fear
ٱللَّهَ ۚ
l-laha
Allah
وَإِن
wa-in
But if
تَكْفُرُوا۟
takfurū
you disbelieve
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
then indeed
لِلَّهِ
lillahi
for Allah
مَا
mā
(is) whatever
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَمَا
wamā
and whatever
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ
l-arḍi
the earth
وَكَانَ
wakāna
And is
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
غَنِيًّا
ghaniyyan
Free of need
حَمِيدًۭا
ḥamīdan
Praiseworthy
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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 132,131) ➊ { وَ لِلّٰهِ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِي الْاَرْضِ:} In the previous verses, the rulings related to women and orphan children were mentioned. Now, when it is said that everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah, the purpose is to inform people that acting upon these commands is for your own benefit; Allah is free from need of anyone’s benefit or harm.
➋ {وَ لَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا الَّذِيْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ … :} That is, those before you and all of you have been emphatically commanded to fear Allah, meaning to act upon the commands He has given. This sentence in {”اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ“} is like the pivot (millstone) for all the verses of the Qur’an, that all the verses revolve around this axis. Ibn Ashur (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “After the names of Allah, this is mentioned the most in the Noble Qur’an.”
➌ Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “It is mentioned three times that whatever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah. The first time is about expansion (giving abundant provision), that in the case of separation, Allah will make both independent, because whatever exists belongs to Allah, He gives to whom He wills as He wills. The second time is about His independence, that if you disbelieve, become deniers (then Allah is also independent, because everything is His). And the third time is about Allah being the Disposer of affairs, that if you adopt taqwa (piety), then He is a sufficient guardian.” (Muwaddih)
➋ {وَ لَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا الَّذِيْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ … :} That is, those before you and all of you have been emphatically commanded to fear Allah, meaning to act upon the commands He has given. This sentence in {”اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ“} is like the pivot (millstone) for all the verses of the Qur’an, that all the verses revolve around this axis. Ibn Ashur (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “After the names of Allah, this is mentioned the most in the Noble Qur’an.”
➌ Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “It is mentioned three times that whatever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah. The first time is about expansion (giving abundant provision), that in the case of separation, Allah will make both independent, because whatever exists belongs to Allah, He gives to whom He wills as He wills. The second time is about His independence, that if you disbelieve, become deniers (then Allah is also independent, because everything is His). And the third time is about Allah being the Disposer of affairs, that if you adopt taqwa (piety), then He is a sufficient guardian.” (Muwaddih)
