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.