The Quran consistently emphasizes Allah's absolute dominion over all creation. He is the Owner of Sovereignty, who 2:255. Ibn Kathir explains that this means all creation is Allah's servant, part of His kingdom, and under His authority. Everything exists by His will, as exemplified by the phrase when He decrees a matter, He only says to it: "Be!"—and it is. This divine command highlights Allah's perfect ability and absolute control, bringing things into existence instantly without delay, as further elucidated in His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "Be!"—and it is.

The scope of this sovereignty extends beyond mere existence to every detail of the cosmos and human life. Allah is the Creator of all things, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, who subjects the sun, moon, and stars by His command, leaving no doubt that His is the creation and the command. He controls hearing and sight, 10:31, and arranges [every matter]. This comprehensive control means that 10:107. No one can prevent His will, nor can anyone intercede without His explicit permission, as stated in 2:255 and 34:23.

This divine authority also encompasses human affairs, including guidance and misguidance. Whoever Allah guides - he is the [rightly guided; and whoever He sends astray - you will never find for them protectors besides Him]. This profound truth is a reminder that even the deepest intentions and actions of individuals fall within His knowledge and ultimate decree.

A crucial aspect of Divine Sovereignty is Allah's boundless knowledge, which is intricately linked to human accountability. Allah knows what is [presently before them and what will be after them], and 2:255. This includes not only outward actions but also 2:284.

Initially, the revelation of Allah will bring you to account for it caused great concern among the Companions, as they feared being held accountable even for involuntary thoughts. However, as recounted by Abu Hurayrah, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised them to say, "We hear and we obey, and we seek Your forgiveness, O our Lord, and the Return is to You." Following this, Allah revealed Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. "Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error.". This abrogation clarified that Allah forgives involuntary thoughts and only holds individuals accountable for intentional actions and firmly resolved intentions that are within their capacity. Ma'arif-ul-Quran explains that this forgiveness for "things hidden in the heart" pertains to involuntary thoughts, while intentions that one resolves to act upon will still be accounted for on the Day of Judgment.

This divine omniscience means that nothing is hidden from Allah, whether it is what they conceal or what they reveal. It includes even the hidden motives of hypocrites who say with their mouths what was not in their hearts and conceal what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty. The knowledge of their hidden intentions forms the basis of their accountability and the eventual manifestation of their true state on the Day of Resurrection.

Divine Sovereignty is manifested through the sending of prophets and revealed scriptures. The Quran itself is presented as a guidance for the God-fearing and is without a doubt revealed from Allah, as Ibn Kathir notes. Its miraculous nature serves as a clear proof of Prophet Muhammad's prophethood, as challenged in if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down to Our servant, then produce a surah like it. This challenge extended to all mankind and jinn, who could never produce anything similar, thereby establishing its divine origin. Ma'arif-ul-Quran details the various qualities that make the Quran a miracle, including its comprehensiveness, eloquence, accurate historical accounts, and predictions of future events.

Prophets, as chosen messengers, convey Allah's commandments and provide practical guidance. Abraham's supplication for a Messenger from his offspring who would recite to them Your signs and teach them the Book and Wisdom and purify them was fulfilled by the sending of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Ibn Kathir explains that "the Book" refers to the Quran, and "Al-Hikmah" refers to the Sunnah (Prophet's teachings and practices) and comprehension in religion. The concept of "teaching the Book" implies that mere knowledge of Arabic is insufficient; rather, understanding the Quran requires the Prophet's guidance. This ensures the preservation of prophetic teachings, even if not with the same degree of literal wording as the Quran, as a whole until the Day of Judgment.

The guidance provided by Allah through His prophets aims to bring humanity to Islam, meaning total submission to Allah. This submission is exemplified by Abraham's response, I have submitted myself to the Lord of the worlds. All prophets, from Adam to Muhammad, called people to Islam, though the specific laws (Shari'ah) might differ from one era to another. However, with the advent of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his Shari'ah became the final and universally applicable path to Allah. As such, whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.

Divine Sovereignty dictates that ultimate reward and punishment are entirely in Allah's hands. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills, and He gives life and causes death. This fundamental truth is a recurring theme in the Quran, reminding humanity of the seriousness of their choices and their ultimate return to Allah.

Disobedience to Allah's commands and rejection of His prophets lead to severe consequences. The People of the Book, for example, were chastised for their disbelief in the Ayat of Allah and killed the Prophets wrongfully, incurring Allah's wrath and destitution. Their actions, such as altering scriptures, hiding truths, and engaging in hypocrisy, were condemned, leading to disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous torment. Ibn Kathir highlights that such behavior is a consequence of their arrogance and transgression. Similarly, those who unjustly consume the property of orphans are warned that they eat up only a fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the blazing Fire!.

Conversely, believers who submit to Allah and perform righteous deeds are promised immense rewards. Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and perform righteous deeds will find no fear upon them, neither shall they grieve in the Hereafter, as their reward is with their Lord. This includes gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they shall live forever, and wives purified, and approval from Allah. The pleasure of Allah is considered the greatest reward, surpassing all worldly delights. The Quran also encourages hastening towards this forgiveness and Paradise through good deeds, emphasizing that even good actions are a means to attain divine mercy, as no one enters Paradise solely by their deeds, but by Allah's grace and forgiveness.

The concept of repentance plays a significant role in seeking Allah's mercy. Allah accepts repentance from those who commit sins “in ignorance heedlessness and then repent soon thereafter”. Ma'arif-ul-Quran clarifies that "ignorance" here refers to carelessness or heedlessness, rather than a lack of knowledge, and "soon thereafter" encompasses one's entire life until the final throes of death. Sincere repentance involves regret, abandoning the sin, and striving to make amends.

The doctrine of Qadar, while affirming Allah's absolute control, does not negate human free will or accountability. Instead, it places human choices within the broader framework of divine knowledge and wisdom. Allah's will is predominant over His affair, and Allah does what He intends. However, humans are given responsibility and are encouraged to strive for good.

The Prophet's supplication, "O You Who changes the hearts, make my heart firm on Your religion", recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir from Umm Salamah, reflects the human recognition of Allah's control over hearts while still actively seeking steadfastness. Similarly, Allah's statement 10:49 indicates that even personal capacities are ultimately subject to divine will.

The Quran presents various examples illustrating this balance:

*Guidance and Misguidance**: While Allah guides whom He wills, individuals choose to accept or reject guidance. Those who have wickedness in their hearts follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking al-Fitnah, thus leading themselves astray. * Success and Failure: The victory in the Battle of Badr, despite the numerical superiority of the disbelievers, was by Allah supports with His victory whom He wills. However, the setback at Uhud was attributed to the Muslims' own shortcomings and disobedience to the Prophet's command, as Say, "It is from yourselves" illustrates. These events highlight that while victory comes from Allah, human effort, obedience, and patience are crucial factors. * Abrogation of Laws (Naskh): The practice of abrogating certain injunctions, such as the change of Qiblah or certain marriage laws, demonstrates Allah's prerogative to adjust His commands according to His wisdom and the evolving needs of humanity. As Ibn Kathir explains, "Allah has full authority to command the creation as He wills, forbidding them from what He wills, abrogate what He wills, uphold what He wills, and decide whatever commandments and prohibitions He wills." This flexibility in divine legislation does not imply error but rather perfect wisdom, as the ultimate purpose is always the good of mankind.

The Quran also clarifies that while specific events may unfold by divine permission, human beings are still accountable for their actions. For instance, those who practiced magic were only able to harm anyone except by Allah's leave, yet their learning and practice of magic were condemned as disbelief. This shows that divine permission for an event to occur does not absolve human agents of moral responsibility.

In conclusion, Divine Sovereignty in Islam establishes Allah's absolute power and control over all aspects of existence, from the cosmos to human destiny. This truth, however, is not a license for passivity but rather a profound call to conscious effort, ethical living, and unwavering submission. Allah's omniscience ensures that all deeds, intentions, and choices are known and accounted for, while His wisdom and mercy provide guidance and opportunities for repentance and reward. The narratives of prophets, the revelations of scripture, and the historical events detailed in the Quran consistently reaffirm this intricate balance, reminding believers that while everything occurs by divine decree, their journey of faith and action remains central to their ultimate salvation.