Sat 1447/08/05AH (24-01-2026AD)
Surah Ash-Shura 42:4–5 is included in the IGCSE Islamiyat 0493 syllabus under the theme “Allah in Himself.” These verses describe Allah’s ownership of the heavens and the earth, His greatness, and His mercy. They also show the majesty of Allah and the humility of the angels before Him. Students are expected to understand what these verses teach about Allah’s nature and explain their importance in Muslim belief and practice.
“To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and He is the Most High, the Most Great. The heavens almost break apart from above them, and the angels exalt their Lord with praise and ask forgiveness for those on the earth. Unquestionably, it is Allah who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
Reference: Surah Ash-Shura 42:4–5
In-book reference: Quran
لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
تَكَادُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِن فَوْقِهِنَّ ۚ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
These verses teach that Allah is the Owner and Controller of everything in the heavens and on the earth. Nothing exists outside His ownership, which shows His complete authority over creation.
The verses also describe Allah as Most High and Most Great, emphasising His superiority over everything. His greatness is so immense that the heavens almost break apart from awe and reverence.
The angels are described as praising Allah and asking forgiveness for people on earth. This shows:
This passage therefore highlights both Allah’s power and His mercy.
This passage belongs to the theme Allah in Himself because it focuses on:
It explains who Allah is, not what He created or which prophets He sent.
These verses are important because they:
For Muslims today, this means:
This affects daily worship, repentance, and reliance on Allah.
In the exam, students may be asked to:
High-level answers will:
Explain what Surah Ash-Shura 42:4–5 teaches about Allah and describe its importance in the lives of Muslims today.
Surah Ash-Shura 42:4–5 teaches Muslims about the greatness, power, and mercy of Allah. The verses begin by stating that everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah, which shows that He is the absolute Owner and Controller of all creation. This highlights His complete authority and sovereignty.
The passage then describes Allah as the Most High and Most Great, emphasising that He is far above anything in creation. His greatness is so immense that the heavens almost break apart from awe. This teaches Muslims that Allah’s power and majesty are beyond human understanding.
The verses also mention that the angels praise Allah and ask forgiveness for the people on earth. This shows Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, as He allows angels to pray for humans. It reminds Muslims that Allah is always ready to forgive those who repent, no matter how great their sins.
For Muslims today, these teachings are extremely important because they strengthen faith in Allah’s power and mercy. Knowing that everything belongs to Allah encourages Muslims to rely on Him and remain humble. The fact that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful gives hope and comfort, especially when Muslims make mistakes.
These verses encourage Muslims to turn to Allah in repentance, worship Him sincerely, and trust in His wisdom. They also remind Muslims to be grateful for Allah’s mercy and guidance.
In conclusion, Surah Ash-Shura 42:4–5 is important because it teaches about Allah’s greatness, ownership, and mercy, and guides Muslims to live with humility, trust, and hope in Allah.