Surah Ar Rahman Tafseer

Allah is the Ever Living, Free of all Need

Allah states that:

كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ

Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish.

Allah states that all the residents of earth will perish and die. The residents of the heavens will die, except whomever Allah wills. Only Allah's Honorable Face will remain, because our Lord, the Exalted, the Blessed, is the Ever Living Who never dies.

Qatadah said,

"First, Allah mentioned His creatures and then He said that all of this will perish."

And in the reported supplication:

`O You the Ever Living Who sustains all that exists!

O You Who created the heavens and the earth without precedence.

O You, Who Owns the glory and the honor, none has the right to be worshipped except You. We seek refuge with Your mercy. Grant Us success in all of our matters. Please, do not abandon us to rely on ourselves even for an instant nor on any of Your creation."

Ash-Sha`bi said,

"When you have recited,

كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ

(Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish), do not stop, continue reading,

وَيَبْقَى وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَلِ وَالاِْكْرَامِ