Surah As-Saff 61:1
سُورَةُ الصَّفِّ · Medinan · Verse 1 of 14
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Translation
Everything in the heavens and earth glorifies God––He is the Almighty, the Wise.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
Surah As-Saff begins with a powerful declaration, inviting us to ponder the very fabric of existence and its relationship with the Divine.
Everything Glorifies
The verse opens with the word سَبَّحَ (sabbaha), meaning "exalted" or "purified." It's a past tense verb, yet its meaning here is not limited to a single past event, but describes an ever-present, continuous reality. As Imam al-Razi notes, this choice of tense, compared to present or imperative forms found elsewhere, emphasizes that the glorification of Allah is a timeless, established fact. It has always been, and always will be.
What is it that glorifies Allah? The verse specifies مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلْأَرْضِ (ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard), meaning "all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth." The use of مَا (ma), which typically refers to non-intelligent beings or general things, rather than "man" (who), is a linguistic choice that encompasses absolutely everything, from the smallest atom to the grandest galaxy, from mountains and rivers to humans and jinn. Every single creation, by its very existence, movement, and purpose, points to and purifies its Creator from any imperfection. As al-Jalalayn explains, it's a way of including the vast majority of creation that doesn't speak with a tongue, alongside those that do.
His Majestic Names
The verse concludes with two of Allah's magnificent names: ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ (al-Azizul-Hakim), "the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." These names are not just descriptive; they are deeply significant.
ٱلْعَزِيزُ (al-Aziz) means the One who is All-Mighty, unconquerable, and possesses absolute power. As al-Muyassar states, He is "the All-Mighty, Who cannot be overcome." Ibn Ashur explains that mentioning this name here subtly reminds us of Allah's power over His enemies, encouraging believers not to fear when facing adversity, especially in what follows regarding struggle.
ٱلْحَكِيمُ (al-Hakim) means the All-Wise, whose every action, command, and decree is perfectly just and placed in its rightful measure. He is "All-Wise in His sayings and actions," as al-Muyassar notes. Ibn Ashur connects this name to the wisdom behind divine commands, implying that Allah does not command believers to strive in vain, nor will He abandon them to their enemies.
This opening verse thus establishes a grand truth: the entire universe is in a state of continuous glorification of Allah, acknowledging His unparalleled might and perfect wisdom. It sets a foundational tone for the surah, calling believers to align their actions with this universal reality.
Sources: al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah As-Saff 61:1 is discussed in one study guide on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah As-Saff 61:1 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.