Surah At-Taghabun 64:1
سُورَةُ التَّغَابُنِ · Medinan · Verse 1 of 18
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ
Translation
Everything that is in the heavens and earth glorifies God; all control and all praise belong to Him; He has power over everything.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
Surah At-Taghabun opens with a profound declaration of Allah's magnificence, echoing through creation. The verse addresses everyone, proclaiming fundamental truths about Allah's nature, and it carries a tone of both affirmation for believers and gentle reminder for those who might deviate.
The Continuous Glorification
The verse begins with the word `يُسَبِّحُ` (yusabbihu), which means "He glorifies" or "declares free of imperfections." The choice of the present tense for this verb is significant. As Imam Ibn Ashur explains, it emphasizes the *continuous renewal and permanence* of this glorification. It's not a past event, but an ongoing reality unfolding at every moment. Furthermore, the Quran uses `مَا` (ma), meaning "whatever," rather than "man" (who, for conscious beings), to comprehensively include *everything* in the heavens and the earth. This encompasses not only angels and believers who glorify Allah with their words, but also mountains, trees, and even the smallest particles, which declare His perfection through their very existence, demonstrating their absolute dependence on Him. The repetition of "whatever is in the heavens and *whatever* is in the earth" (`وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ`) serves as a verbal emphasis, highlighting that this glorification truly extends to every distinct part of creation.
Exclusive Dominion and Praise
The verse continues, `لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ` (Lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamd), meaning "To Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise." The Arabic structure here is crucial: the phrase `لَهُ` (lahu), meaning "to Him," is placed at the beginning. As scholars like al-Zamakhshari and Ibn Ashur point out, this word order conveys *exclusivity*. It signifies that dominion (`al-mulk`) belongs *only* to Allah, and all praise (`al-hamd`) is due *only* to Him. Allah's dominion is absolute and inherent, as He is the Creator, Originator, and Sustainer of all things. Any power or kingship held by creatures is merely a temporary trust from Him. Similarly, all praise is due to Allah alone because all blessings, from their origins to their smallest details, come from Him.
All-Encompassing Power
The verse concludes with `وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ` (Wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay'in Qadeer), meaning "And He is over all things All-Powerful." Ibn Ashur describes this as a concluding statement that clarifies *why* dominion and praise belong exclusively to Allah. His absolute power over everything is the very foundation for His unique right to control and be praised. Al-Razi adds that possessing dominion naturally implies the power to exercise it. The mention of `قَدِيرٌ` (Qadeer), "All-Powerful," here is especially fitting because the very existence of the vast, diverse creation that continually glorifies Him serves as the clearest proof of His immense power. This powerful closing statement acts as both a promise for the grateful and a gentle warning for those who might deny Him or associate partners with Him.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah At-Taghabun 64:1 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 At-Taghabun 64:1 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.