الَّذي لَهُ مُلكُ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ شَهيدٌ
To whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is witness to all things.
EXPOSITION
God is the malik (king) and the mālik (owner) of the creation. The reference to mulk (kingdom) here signifies that God has full sovereignty over His creation and does as He wishes in His kingdom based on His eternal wisdom and boundless knowledge. Thus, no one may object or demand Him to act otherwise. Even the ones who deny His existence and rebel against His commands, they too are His subjects and cannot escape His judgement or kingdom.
Now the question arises in this verse that if God is in control of all affairs, then why does He allow such horrors to be inflicted on the believers? This of course calls for a wider discussion related to theodicy which we cannot properly delve into here and for that the reader should refer to theological works. Briefly, however, we may point out the main gist. God has granted His servants free will and this life is designed to test us in how we use that. The believers should be tested in their faith, and the disbelievers should be given the opportunity to act on their wickedness, So that Allah may separate the bad ones from the good (8:37). Do you suppose that you shall enter paradise though there has not yet come to you the like of [what befell] those who went before you? Stress and distress befell them and they were convulsed until the apostle and the faithful who were with him said: ‘When will Allah’s help [come]?’ Look! Allah’s help is indeed near! (2:214).
Such events are an opportunity for the difference between good and evil to be made clear to all. The oppressors are allowed to show just how depraved they are, and the believers just how committed and unshaking they are. Not just those killing or being killed are separated, but as we discussed in previous verses, even those who are witnesses to such events. Genocides and similar vile acts of massacre will always be a divider. It will divide people to good and bad depending on how they react to it. Those who approve will be counted amongst the criminals, and those who oppose it will have sided with justice. This is one of the reasons why the Imams placed such emphasis on the events of Karbala, which made distinct who was standing with justice and who had sided with injustice, and which is why those whose hearts were pleased with those events had also earned the curse of God and the believers.
The declaration that kingdom belongs to God is hence acting as a reminder that God fully knows what is happening and is allowing it because that is what He has decreed should be the order of affairs in this life. The fact that He does not exact punishment immediately should not be taken as a sign of Him being pleased with such actions, Do not suppose that Allah is oblivious to what the wrongdoers are doing. He is only granting them respite until the day when the eyes will be glazed (14:42).
Thus, the reminder in the verse that God is a witness to what they did to the believers is a threatening announcement for the perpetrators. We could also note how this is the fourth time that witnesses are mentioned, but in Arabic each time it has been with a different form of sh-h-d (shāhid – mashhūd – shuhūd – shahīd). Not only is this eloquent, but it serves to emphasise that while different witnesses may be brought on the Day of Judgement for actions, Allah suffices as witness (48:28).
[1] Tabrisi, 10/710.
[2] See Sharawi, p. 6926.
[3] Tabrisi, 10/710.