Surah Al-An'am 6:62
سُورَةُ الأَنۡعَامِ · Meccan · Verse 62 of 165
ثُمَّ رُدُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَوْلَىٰهُمُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ ٱلْحَٰسِبِينَ
Translation
Then they will all be returned to God, their true Lord. The Judgement truly belongs to Him, and He is the swiftest of reckoners.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse, Surah 6:62, speaks to every soul, reminding us of our ultimate destination and the nature of our return. After the account of how life concludes for each person, Allah states the fundamental truth of what follows.
The Inevitable Return
The verse begins with `ثُمَّ رُدُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ` (Then they are returned to Allah). The word `thumma` (then) signals a sequence, indicating that after death, a definitive event takes place. The verb `ruddu` is in the passive voice ("they are returned"), emphasizing that this return is not by choice, but by divine decree. As Ibn Ashur explains, the pronoun `they` refers to "anyone" who dies, encompassing all of humanity. It means the deceased will be brought back to Allah. This underscores that our lives are a journey with a specific, appointed end: a return to our Creator, not an annihilation. Scholar al-Razi further notes that this phrase points to the existence of the soul separate from the body, for it is the soul, the true essence of a person, that is returned to Allah after the body’s demise.
Our True Master
The verse continues, `مَوْلَىٰهُمُ ٱلْحَقِّ` (their True Master). The word `Mawla` here signifies "Owner" or "Lord" and "Protector," as explained by al-Jalalayn and Ibn Ashur. Allah is not merely a distant deity but `Mawlahum`, *their* specific Master, emphasizing a direct relationship and absolute dominion. The addition of `al-Haqq` (the True or the Just) as a description of `Mawla` is crucial. Ibn Ashur elaborates that this means Allah is "their True Owner whose ownership is not tainted by falsehood," unlike any temporary or illusory authority in this world. Al-Zamakhshari highlights `al-Haqq` as the "Just, who only judges with justice." This specific wording assures us that the ultimate authority is rooted in absolute truth and unwavering justice.
Exclusive Authority
Following this, Allah declares, `أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ` (Indeed, to Him belongs the Judgment). The particle `Ala` is an opening word that acts as a strong emphasis, drawing attention to the profound statement that follows. Ibn Ashur points out that `Ala` is often used for important concluding remarks. The phrase `Lahu al-hukmu` uses a grammatical structure (preposing `Lahu`, "to Him") to convey exclusivity. It means that judgment belongs *solely* to Allah, and to no one else. This leaves no room for doubt: on that Day, no other entity will hold any sway or authority in deciding outcomes. It is His decree alone that will prevail, as al-Jalalayn states, "the effective decree concerning them."
The Swiftest Reckoner
The verse concludes with `وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ ٱلْحَٰسِبِينَ` (and He is the swiftest of reckoners). This attribute highlights Allah's unparalleled capability. While `thumma` implies a sequence in events leading to the Hereafter, this final phrase stresses that when the time for judgment arrives, it will be incredibly swift. Al-Zamakhshari clarifies that Allah "is not distracted by one reckoning from another," meaning His vastness of knowledge and power allows Him to account for all creation simultaneously. Ibn Ashur beautifully connects this swiftness to the preceding context: for the righteous, it's a promise of immediate reward; for the disbelievers, a warning of swift accountability, allowing no delay in their recompense. This wording assures every individual that their deeds, however small, will be perfectly accounted for, without error or delay, by the ultimate, perfectly just Judge.
Source: al-Jalalayn, al-Zamakhshari, Ibn Ashur, al-Razi
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-An'am 6:62 is discussed in 4 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-An'am 6:62 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.