Surah Hud 11:4
سُورَةُ هُودٍ · Meccan · Verse 4 of 123
إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ
Translation
it is to God that you will all return, and He has power over everything.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
As we approach this powerful verse, إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ, let us do so with humility, recognizing it as the direct speech of Allah, our Master. It serves as a profound reminder and a warning to all of humanity, especially those who may turn away from His commands, as mentioned in the preceding verses. Allah Himself declares to us that our ultimate return is to Him, and He is the All-Powerful over everything.
The Inevitable Return
The verse begins with إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ (To Allah is your return). Notice how the phrase إِلَى ٱللَّهِ (To Allah) is placed at the very beginning. This grammatical structure, called "fronting," is a deliberate choice to emphasize the destination of our return. As Imam al-Razi highlights, this signifies *hasr*, meaning "to Allah *alone*" is our return, not to anyone else. It asserts His exclusive authority and ultimate dominion. The word مَرْجِعُكُمْ (marji'ukum), meaning "your return," is a verbal noun, conveying the absolute certainty and inevitability of this event. Ibn Ashur explains it’s a way of saying that no one can escape Allah’s power, no matter how much time passes. This return encompasses both our earthly lives, where we are constantly under His watch, and our ultimate return after death for judgment.
His Boundless Power
Following this declaration is وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ (And He is over all things capable). The connective "waw" here links Allah's complete power directly to our return. The phrase عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ (over all things) is expansive, leaving no doubt about the scope of His capability. He is not just powerful over some things, but over "every single thing." This is beautifully encapsulated by the Divine Name قَدِيرٌ (Qadeer), the All-Capable, the All-Powerful, whose power is absolute and perfect.
The Profound Implication
Together, these two statements create a profound and sobering message. Ibn Ashur points out that this second phrase serves as an explanation or reason for the warnings preceding it. If we are to return to Allah, and He is capable of absolutely everything, what then do we expect when we stand before Him, especially if we have disobeyed His commands? The power of قَدِيرٌ means He is capable of both severe punishment and immense reward. Imam al-Razi aptly describes this as both a "great threat" for those who disobey and a "great glad tiding" for those who obey, for a Merciful, All-Powerful King will undoubtedly deal with His helpless servants with grace and justice. This verse invites us to internalize the reality of our ultimate destination and to live in a way that aligns with the boundless power and justice of the One to whom we will return.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Hud 11:4 is discussed in 2 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Hud 11:4 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.