سُوْرَةُ الْفَتْحِ
Surah Al-Fath (48) — Ayah 14
وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴿14﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And to Allâh belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. He forgives whom He wills, and punishes whom He wills. And Allâh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلِلَّهِ
walillahi
And for Allah
مُلْكُ
mul'ku
(is the) kingdom
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
(of) the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
يَغْفِرُ
yaghfiru
He forgives
لِمَن
liman
whom
يَشَآءُ
yashāu
He wills
وَيُعَذِّبُ
wayuʿadhibu
and punishes
مَن
man
whom
يَشَآءُ ۚ
yashāu
He wills
وَكَانَ
wakāna
And is
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
غَفُورًۭا
ghafūran
Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمًۭا
raḥīman
Most Merciful
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 14) ➊ { وَ لِلّٰهِ مُلْكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ:} This was said to those desert Arabs who were left behind and mentioned above, that the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth belongs only to Allah. If you persist in hypocrisy and in refusing to go out for jihad with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), then no one has the power to save you from whatever punishment He wishes to inflict upon you, or if He wishes to forgive you for your remorse and repentance, then no one can prevent Him.
➋ { يَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ يَّشَآءُ وَ يُعَذِّبُ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ … :} In this, those Arabs are encouraged to repent and return to obedience to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), that there is still time to repent for staying behind from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), because Allah is forgiving to those who repent and merciful to them, and this attribute of His is not just for today but has always been and will always be.
➌ { ’’ يَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ يَّشَآءُ وَ يُعَذِّبُ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ ‘‘} The division shows that among those who stayed behind, some will repent from hypocrisy and be blessed with the gift of sincerity and will benefit from Allah’s forgiveness and mercy, and there will also be some who will not repent from hypocrisy and Allah will punish them. This is also made clear further in the verse: « قُلْ لِّلْمُخَلَّفِيْنَ مِنَ الْاَعْرَابِ …».
➋ { يَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ يَّشَآءُ وَ يُعَذِّبُ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ … :} In this, those Arabs are encouraged to repent and return to obedience to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), that there is still time to repent for staying behind from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), because Allah is forgiving to those who repent and merciful to them, and this attribute of His is not just for today but has always been and will always be.
➌ { ’’ يَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ يَّشَآءُ وَ يُعَذِّبُ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ ‘‘} The division shows that among those who stayed behind, some will repent from hypocrisy and be blessed with the gift of sincerity and will benefit from Allah’s forgiveness and mercy, and there will also be some who will not repent from hypocrisy and Allah will punish them. This is also made clear further in the verse: « قُلْ لِّلْمُخَلَّفِيْنَ مِنَ الْاَعْرَابِ …».
