Surah 28:69
Show Full Scripture Context (28:68-70) — 3 Verses
وَرَبُّكَ يَخۡلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَيَخۡتَارُۗ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡخِيَرَةُۚ سُبۡحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ
Your Lord creates whatever He pleases, and chooses (whomever He pleases) – the choice is not theirs. Glory to God! He is exalted above what they associate.
وَرَبُّكَ يَعۡلَمُ مَا تُكِنُّ صُدُورُهُمۡ وَمَا يُعۡلِنُونَ
Your Lord knows what their hearts conceal and what they speak aloud.
وَهُوَ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ لَهُ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ فِي ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۖ وَلَهُ ٱلۡحُكۡمُ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ
He is God – (there is) no god but Him. To Him (be) praise, at the first and at the last! To Him (belongs) the judgment, and to Him you will be returned.
Allah tells us that He is the only One Who has the power to create and make decisions, and there is no one who can dispute with Him in that or reverse His judgement.
His saying:
means, whatever He wills, for what He wills, happens; and what He does not will, does not happen. All things, good and bad alike, are in His Hands and will return to Him.
{no choice have they.} is a negation, according to the correct view. This is like the Ayah,
{It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision} (33:36).
Then Allah says:
He knows what is hidden in their hearts, just as He knows what they do openly.
{It is the same whether any of you conceals his speech or declares it openly, whether he be hid by night or goes forth freely by day.} (13:10).
meaning, He is unique in His divinity, for none is to be worshipped besides Him, and there is no lord who can create what he wills and chooses besides Him.
in all that He does. He is to be praised for His justice and wisdom.
{His is the decision,} that none can put back, because of His might, power, wisdom and mercy.
{and to Him shall you be returned.} means, all of you on the Day of Resurrection, and everyone will be rewarded or punished according to his deeds, good and evil alike, and absolutely none of their deeds will be concealed from Him.