Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Fatihah Verse 4

Master of the Day of Judgement; that is, [the day of] requite, the Day of Resurrection. The reason for the specific mention [of the Day of Judgement] is that the mastery of none shall appear on that Day except that of God, may He be exalted, as is indicated by [God's words] `Whose is the Kingdom today?' `God's' [Q. 40;16] (if one reads it mlik [as opposed to malik], then this signifies that He has possession of the entire affair on the Day of Resurrection, or else that He is ever described by this [expression], in the same way as [He is described as] `Forgiver of sin' (ghfir al-dhanb). Thus, one can validly take it as an adjective of a definite noun).

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Owner of the Day of Recompense.

Allah mentioned His sovereignty of the Day of Resurrection, but this does not negate His sovereignty over all other things. For Allah mentioned that He is the Lord of existence, including this earthly life and the Hereafter. Allah only mentioned the Day of Recompense here because on that Day, no one except Him will be able to claim ownership of anything whatsoever. On that Day, no one will be allowed to speak without His permission.

Similarly, Allah said,

يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الرُّوحُ وَالْمَلَـيِكَةُ صَفّاً لاَّ يَتَكَلَّمُونَ إِلاَّ مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ الرَّحْمَـنُ وَقَالَ صَوَاباً

The Day that Ar-Ruh (Jibril (Gabriel) or another angel) and the angels will stand forth in rows, they will not speak except him whom the Most Gracious (Allah) allows, and he will speak what is right. (78;38)

and,

وَخَشَعَتِ الَاصْوَاتُ لِلرَّحْمَـنِ فَلَ تَسْمَعُ إِلاَّ هَمْساً

And all voices will be humbled for the Most Gracious (Allah), and nothing shall you hear but the low voice of their footsteps. (20;108)

and,

يَوْمَ يَأْتِ لَا تَكَلَّمُ نَفْسٌ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ فَمِنْهُمْ شَقِىٌّ وَسَعِيدٌ

On the Day when it comes, no person shall speak except by His (Allah's) leave. Some among them will be wretched and (others) blessed. (11;105)

Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas commented,

"Allah says, `On that Day, no one owns anything that they used to own in the world."'

The Meaning of Yawm Ad-Din

Ibn Abbas said,

"Yawm Ad-Din is the Day of Recompense for the creatures, meaning the Day of Judgment. On that Day, Allah will reckon the creation for their deeds, evil for evil, good for good, except for those whom He pardons."

In addition, several other Companions, Tabi`in and scholars of the Salaf, said similarly, for this meaning is apparent and clear from the Ayah.

Allah is Al-Malik (King or Owner)

Allah is the True Owner (Malik) (of everything and everyone).

Allah said,

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِى لَا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَـمُ

He is Allah, beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa, the King, the Holy, the One free from all defects. (59;23)

Also, the Two Sahihs recorded Abu Hurayrah saying that the Prophet said,

أَخْنَعُ اسْمٍ عِنْدَ اللهِ رَجُلٌ تَسَمَّى بِمَلِكِ الاَْمْلَكِ وَلَا مَالِكَ إِلاَّ اللهُ

The most despicable name to Allah is a person who calls himself the king of kings, while there are no owners except Allah.

Also the Two Sahihs recorded that the Messenger of Allah said,

يَقْبِضُ اللهُ الاَْرْضَ وَيَطْوِي السَّمَاءَ بِيَمِينِهِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ

أَنَا الْمَلِكُ أَيْنَ مُلُوكُ الاَْرْضِ أَيْنَ الْجَبَّارُونَ أَيْنَ الْمُتَكَبِّرُونَ

On the Day of Judgement Allah will grasp the earth and fold up the heavens with His Right Hand and proclaim,

'I Am the King!

Where are the kings of the earth?

Where are the tyrants?

Where are the arrogant'?

Also, in the Glorious Qur'an;

لِّمَنِ الْمُلْكُ الْيَوْمَ لِلَّهِ الْوَحِدِ الْقَهَّارِ

Whose is the kingdom this Day? (It will be) Allah's, the One, the Irresistible. (40;16)

As for calling someone other than Allah a king in this life, then it is done as a figure of speech. For instance, Allah said,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طَالُوتَ مَلِكًا

Indeed Allah appointed Talut (Saul) as a king over you. (2;247)

and,

وَكَانَ وَرَاءَهُم مَّلِكٌ

As there was a king behind them, (18;79)

and,

إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنْبِيَأءَ وَجَعَلَكُمْ مُّلُوكاً

When He made Prophets among you, and made you kings. (5;20)

Also, the Two Sahihs recorded,

مِثْلُ الْمُلُوكِ عَلَى الاَْسِرَّةِ

Just like kings reclining on their thrones.

The Meaning of Ad-Din

Ad-Din means the reckoning, the reward or punishment.

Similarly, Allah said,

يَوْمَيِذٍ يُوَفِّيهِمُ اللَّهُ دِينَهُمُ الْحَقَّ

On that Day Allah will pay them the (Dinahum) recompense (of their deeds) in full. (24;25)

and,

أَءِنَّا لَمَدِينُونَ

Shall we indeed (be raised up) to receive reward or punishment (according to our deeds). (37;53)

A Hadith stated,

الْكَيِّسُ مَنْ دَانَ نَفْسَهُ وَعَمِلَ لِمَا بَعْدَ الْمَوتِ

The wise person is he who reckons himself and works for (his life) after death.

meaning, he holds himself accountable.

Also, Umar said,

- "Hold yourself accountable before you are held accountable,

- weigh yourselves before you are weighed, and

-be prepared for the biggest gathering before He Whose knowledge encompasses your deeds,

يَوْمَيِذٍ تُعْرَضُونَ لَا تَخْفَى مِنكُمْ خَافِيَةٌ
That Day shall you be brought to Judgement, not a secret of yours will be hidden. (69;18)"

The Linguistic and Religious Meaning of `Ibadah

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
(

Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Fatihah Verse 4

Al-Fatihah [1]: 4 ~ English Qur'an Word By Word and Multi Tafseer

Transliteration:

English / Sahih Translation:

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Ruwwad Translation Center

A. J. Arberry

Abdul Haleem

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Abul Ala Maududi

Ahmed Ali

Ahmed Raza Khan

Ali Quli Qarai

Ali Ünal

Amatul Rahman Omar

English Literal

Faridul Haque

Hamid S. Aziz

Hilali & Khan

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Muhammad Sarwar

Qaribullah & Darwish

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Wahiduddin Khan

Talal Itani

Tafsir jalalayn

Tafseer Ibn Kathir