Reflections on Surah Aal-e-Imran (3:26-27)
The Hands That Hold Power:
These Quranic verses of Surah Aal-e-Imran strip away illusion and remind us of a truth we often forget that power is not seized; it is given. Honor is not earned; it is bestowed.
“Say: O Allah! Owner of Sovereignty! You give sovereignty to whom You will and take it away from whom You will. You honor whom You will, and You humble whom You will. In Your Hand is all good. Indeed, You have power over all things.”
“You cause the night to enter the day, and You cause the day to enter the night. You bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living. And You provide for whom You will without measure.” (Surah Aal-e-Imran, 3:26-27)
We chase power, wealth, and status, believing they are ours to keep. But every kingdom falls. Every ruler fades. The hands that once held the world are now dust beneath our feet. History proves this - empires rise, only to crumble. The mighty are brought low, the forgotten are elevated. The Qur’an does not present this as randomness but as Divine Will in motion. The rise and fall of people, nations, and fortunes is not driven by human effort alone; it is dictated by the One - by Allah - whose command alone decides who rises and who falls.
The movement of power mirrors the movement of nature. Just as night turns into day, strength turns into weakness. Just as life emerges from where there was once death, rulers emerge from those who were once powerless. No wealth is hoarded, no empire stands, no soul breathes, except by His decree. The world is not built on chance but on perfect balance.
And what remains? Not thrones. Not wealth. Not titles. They are but fleeting shadows. The only thing that endures is faith, sincerity, and the heart that bows before its true King - Allah. The one who understands this truth does not fear loss, nor does he become arrogant in gain. He walks with humility, knowing that honor and disgrace, just like night and day, are in the hands of the One who gives and takes as He wills.
A Call to Reflection
These verses are not just about power. They are about trust. When we understand that all power and honor belong to Allah, we stop fearing people. We stop being consumed by status. We stop attaching ourselves to things that will not last. Instead, we turn to the One whose gifts never fade, whose power never wanes, and whose decree is always just.
The world changes. Thrones fall. Fortunes shift. But the one who holds on to Allah will never be lost.