Surah Yunus Ayat 3 (10:3 Quran) With Tafsir

Ala-Maududi

(10:3) Surely your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself on the Throne (of His Dominion), governing all affairs of the universe.^[4] None may intercede with Him except after obtaining His leave.^[5] Such is Allah, your Lord; do therefore serve Him.^[6] Will you not take heed?^[7]

4. This is to impress the fact that after creating the universe, Allah has not cut off connection with it, but has sat Himself upon His Throne and is practically directing and conducting and governing each and every part of it. The foolish people think that after creating the universe, Allah has left it to itself or to others to exploit it as they will. But the Quran refutes this and says that Allah Himself is governing His entire creation and He has kept all the powers and the reins of government in His own hands and whatever is taking place in each and every part of the universe is happening with His command or permission. In short, He is not only the Creator but also the Ruler, Designer and Supporter of the universe, which is working in accordance with His will. See also (Surah Al-Aaraf, ayat 54) note 40-41.

5. This is to emphasize the other side of the matter. He is All-Powerful and there is none who dare make even a recommendation to Him about anything, not to speak of interfering with His management of affairs so as to cause any change in His decrees or in the making or marring of anyone’s fate. The most one can do is to make a supplication to Him but it all depends on His will to grant or reject it. There is none so powerful in His Kingdom as to have his own way in anything or to get his recommendations through anyhow.

6. After stating the bare fact that Allah alone is the Lord, people are being told the kind of conduct that fact demands from them. That is, when Allah alone is your Lord, you should worship Him alone. In this connection, it should also be noted that just as the Arabic word Rabb implies three things namely Providence, Supremacy and Sovereignty, likewise the Arabic word ibadat also contains three corresponding implications.

(1) Worship: As Allah is his sole Providence, man should show his gratitude to Him by worshiping Him alone. He should pray and supplicate to Him and bow his head in reverence to Him and none else.

(2) Servitude: As Allah is the only Supreme Being, man should behave like His servant and slave and should not adopt the attitude of independence towards Him nor should he subject himself to the mental or practical servitude of anyone else.

(3) Obedience: As Allah is his sole Sovereign, man should obey His commands, and follow His law, and he should neither become his own sovereign nor should he acknowledge anyone else as his sovereign.

7. That is, will you not then understand the implications of the reality that has been expounded? Will you not open your eyes and see the misunderstandings which have been misleading you into wrong ways opposed to Reality? Will you persist in them?

Ibn-Kathir

3. “Surely, your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and then rose over (Istawa) the Throne, arranging the affair ﴿of all things﴾. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after He permits. That is Allah, your Lord; so worship Him (alone). Then, will you not remember

Allah tells us that He is the Lord of the entire existence. He tells us that He created the heavens and the earth in six days. It was said: “Like these days (meaning our worldly days).” It was also said: “Every day is like a thousand years of what we reckon.” Later, this will be discussed further.

(and then rose over (Istawa) the Throne.)” The Throne is the greatest of the creatures and is like a ceiling for them. Allah’s statement:

(arranging the affair ﴿of all things﴾.) means that He controls the affairs of the creatures.

(Not even the weight of a speck of dust escapes His Knowledge in the heavens or in the earth.) (34:3) No affair distract’ Him from other affairs. No matter troubles Him. The persistent requests of His creatures do not annoy Him. He governs big things as He governs small things everywhere, on the mountains, in the oceans, in populated areas, or in wastelands.

(And no moving creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah.) (11:6)

(Not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.) (6:59) Ad-Darawardi narrated from Sa`d bin Ishaq bin Ka`b bin `Ujrah that he said: “When this Ayah was revealed,

(Surely, your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth) they met a great caravan whom they thought should be Arabs. They said to them: `Who are you’ They replied: `We are Jinns. We left Al-Madinah because of this Ayah.”’ This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim. Allah said:

(No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after He permits.) This is similar to what is in the following Ayat:

(Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission) (2:255) and,

(And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.)(53:26), and;

(Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits. )(34:23). Allah then said:

(That is Allah, your Lord; so worship Him (alone). Then, will you not remember) meaning worship Him alone with no partners.

(Then will you not remember) meaning “O idolators, you worship gods with Allah while you know that He alone is the Creator,” as He said:

(And if you ask them who created them, they will surely say: “Allah.”)(43:87),

(“Say: “Who is (the) Lord of the seven heavens, and (the) Lord of the Great Throne They will say: “Allah.” Say: “Will you not then have Taqwa”) (23:86-87), Similar is mentioned in the Ayah before this Ayah and after it.