Surah Al-Mu'minun — Verse 87

Word Meanings:

• Sayaqooloona (سَيَقُولُونَ): They will surely say — indicating a definite, inevitable response.
• Lillahi (لِلَّهِ): Belongs to Allah — meaning exclusively His ownership and dominion.
• Afala tattaqoon (أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ): Will you not then fear (Allah) — i.e., will you not be conscious of Him and guard yourselves against His punishment?

Explanation of the Verse:

In this verse, Allah instructs His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to pose a profound question to the polytheists of Makkah. The Prophet asks them: "To whom do the heavens and the earth and all that is between them belong?" — and the previous verse establishes their inevitable answer. Now, in this verse, Allah tells the Prophet to follow up on their admission.

When asked, they will undoubtedly reply: "They belong to Allah." This is not a matter of debate for them — even the staunchest idolaters of Makkah acknowledged that Allah is the Creator, the Owner, and the Sustainer of the universe. They never claimed that their idols created the heavens or the earth; rather, they used idols as intermediaries in worship.

So Allah instructs the Prophet to seize this very admission and turn it against their own logic: "Will you not then fear Allah?" The argument is devastatingly simple and powerful: If you admit that Allah alone owns the heavens, the earth, and everything within them — if you admit His absolute sovereignty — then how can you worship others besides Him? How can you fear idols that own nothing, while you do not fear the One who owns everything and holds your very existence in His Hands?

The question is a call to God-consciousness (taqwa). It invites them to let their own confession lead them to the natural conclusion: that the One who owns all things deserves all worship, and that His punishment is to be feared above all else. It is a gentle yet piercing reminder that their own hearts already know the truth — they simply need to act upon it.

A Da'wah Reflection:

This verse beautifully demonstrates the Qur'anic method of dialogue — meeting people where they are and using their own admissions to guide them toward the truth. It teaches us as believers that the fitrah (innate human nature) already recognizes Allah's lordship; our role is to awaken that recognition and connect it to action. When a person acknowledges that Allah is the Creator and Owner of all, the natural next step is to live in obedience to Him and to fear His displeasure.

Dear reader, reflect on your own heart: You already know that Allah is your Lord, your Creator, and your Sustainer. Every breath you take is by His permission. So let that knowledge transform your life — let it fill you with awe of Him, love for Him, and a sincere desire to follow His guidance. For the one who truly fears Allah finds peace in this world and salvation in the Hereafter. Let your tongue confess what your heart already knows, and let your actions bear witness to that truth.