Al-Baqarah · Madani · ayah 139 of 286

Al-Baqarah 2:139

قُلْ أَتُحَآجُّونَنَا فِى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ وَلَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُخْلِصُونَ

“Say, [O Muḥammad], "Do you argue with us about Allāh while He is our Lord and your Lord? For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. And we are sincere [in deed and intention] to Him."”

Saheeh International

Essence

No one owns Allah: He is our Lord and yours, each answers for their own deeds, and our part is to be sincere to Him.

A reflection

The Lord no group can own

Two grown brothers argue for years over which of them their late father loved more. One was there at the end; the other sent the money for his care. When the will is finally read, it divides everything exactly in half. Each brother leaves the solicitor's office quietly.

'Do you argue with us about Allah, when He is our Lord and your Lord?' The argument in the ayah was over ownership. A narration-based commentary describes it. Some said: the prophets were from among us and on our religion, so we are closer to Allah than you. A modern commentary adds their reasoning: our religion is older, our book came first.

The answer does not claim ownership in return. It dissolves the whole contest. He is our Lord and your Lord. A modern commentary puts it simply: He is Lord of all the worlds, not reserved for one people. A narration-based commentary says the same: we and you are equal before Allah in this.

This shrinks a particular kind of ego: religious pride. It is easy for any community, Muslims included, to speak as though God were its property. As though belonging to the right group gave a private line to Him. The ayah answers: you cannot own the Lord of everyone.

A concise commentary adds a further point. If He is Lord of all, He may choose a prophet from whichever people He wills. The choosing is His, not ours.

Does this Lord need our arguments on His behalf? He is free of all need (35:15). We argue for ourselves. The ayah turns the dispute back to what each can actually control.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.